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Admin
Administrator
USA
1664 Posts |
 Posted - 02/14/2005 : 09:37:18 AM
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SBF needs your opinion
Do you wear your seat belt when driving your bus? Why or why not? Do others at your operation wear their belts? What do they say about it? Is it a state or district requirement/mandate to wear belts? What are the penalties, if any? Do you think it's safer to wear the belts or better to not wear them? All opinions are welcomed and greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your input.
Sincerely,
SBF
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BlueBird44
Top Member
USA
1639 Posts |
Posted - 02/14/2005 : 09:52:53 AM
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| I always wear my seatbealt. It is mandated for all of us to wear our seat belts to my knowledge all of us do. Expically with the new seatbelts you can tell when a driver dosen't have them on unlike the lap belts they where easy to get away with not wearing in my opinion. I think since we're in the driver seat we should wear them for our safety and also as an example to the students we haul. I think it safer because we do not have cushion around us like the students we need to keep from going out of the windsheild and to keep us from hitting the metal that is all around us in an unfortunate event of an accident. |
IC-The Golden Shield of School Transportation |
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bosslady
Advanced Member
USA
336 Posts |
Posted - 02/14/2005 : 12:50:29 PM
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| It is a state law in Kansas that school bus drivers wear their seat belts. |
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buslady-582
Advanced Member
USA
334 Posts |
Posted - 02/14/2005 : 4:09:55 PM
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I always wear my seat belt even though on some of my routes I am constantly getting in and out of my seat buckling in Early Childhood students or loading wheelchairs. I believe most drivers wear theirs also. I know it is a company policy and probably a law because it is part of the driving test given to us by our trainer. She is a state certified DOT trainer and also drives a daily route. I will ask her if it is a law and what the penalties may be.
I do think it is much safer for the driver to wear a seat belt. You are quite exposed up there in front of the bus. I have also read here on SBF about drivers turning corners and sliding out of, or being bounced out of their seats when not wearing a seat belt.
They are uncomfortrable to some extent and I have heard drivers complain. No matter what the mechanics try to do they seem to cut into your neck. I have a clip that holds the shoulder strap in place near the lap strap. I bought it in the automotive section and it said it was "approved".
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Bus Nut
see my " Buster" #582
1994 BB TC2000 http://home.new.rr.com/buslady582/mybus.JPG
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Edited by - buslady-582 on 02/14/2005 4:11:16 PM |
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CountGirl
Top Member
USA
823 Posts |
Posted - 02/14/2005 : 9:36:53 PM
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Many of our drivers wear their seatbelts, infact I found an actual "BELT CUTTER" mounted on Triplicate's wall today I had never before seen! I do know of ONE driver whom does not wear hers and is VERY snippity when you remind her innocently from your eighth-grade-mind when you see it is wrong. I also know of another driver that used to not wear hers for the reason "You don't have to wear them, I don't see why busdrivers have to" - I believe she wears her seatbelt now several years later. I have no idea what caused her to wise up, if anything, but I'm glad she did.
As for the laws and policy, I'd have to inquire.
Countgirl |
Give me a yellow object. Yes. Right now. I need my yellow chocolate, for goodness sake! |
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Peter
Top Member
USA
1057 Posts |
Posted - 02/15/2005 : 04:33:43 AM
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| I wear my seatbelt. It is required. Even with the old lap only belts, I think that wearing it is safer than not. And with the way I drive... just kidding. |
Spicer is nicer. |
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92FrdCarp#11
Top Member
USA
1455 Posts |
Posted - 02/15/2005 : 5:28:58 PM
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In Tennessee, it's state law to wear a seatbelt. My old bus driver didn't wear her seatbelt while driving the bus because the riders don't have seatbelts. My new driver does wear his seatbelt. Awhile back I heard on the bus radio that another driver in my county got pulled over for not wearing a seatbelt while driving the bus. I'm not sure if all of the other drivers wear their seatbelts.
Hope this helps. |
Johnny
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coolbusdriver
Top Member
Canada
1509 Posts |
Posted - 02/15/2005 : 5:40:49 PM
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The law in Ontario states that every one must wear a seat belt while operating a motor vehicle. To my knowledge everyone at our operation does so. I would never drive a vehicle with out my belt on as it is much safer and a proven lifesaver.
The following came from this web site:
http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/safety/seatbelt.htm
quote:
A driver can be charged and face a fine of $90.00 and two demerit points (plus a $20 victim surcharge) for seat belt infractions. Demerit points remain on a driving record for two years from the date of the offence.
A motor vehicle driver is responsible for ensuring that all children under 16 years of age are properly secured in a seat belt
The following is from this web site:
http://www.police.smiths-falls.on.ca/seatbelt.htm
quote:
If a school bus has been equipped with seat belts for each passenger they must be worn; however, due to the structure of the vehicle and the compartmentalization of the seats, excellent passive protection is offered in post-1981 school busses without the use of seatbelts. Experimental busses , with lap belts and rear facing seats, have been tested by Transport Canada.
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Edited by - coolbusdriver on 02/15/2005 6:31:46 PM |
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bbird66
Top Member
USA
881 Posts |
Posted - 02/16/2005 : 05:39:41 AM
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| State law in Wis, If you get caught in a spot check, thats the first thing the state patrol check when they come up the stair well to ask for your license. |
Were gonna miss you "Brent"..Good luck in "Heidi land"
"I know you miss the Wainwrights Bobby, but they were weak and stupid people...and that's why we have wolves and other large predators" .. The Far Side
"On a two hour delay when will my child be picked up??"
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2001bluebird
Senior Member
USA
143 Posts |
Posted - 02/16/2005 : 3:49:57 PM
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| I wear mine. I think if you have to wear them in your car you should have to wear them on a bus. |
Blue Bird A True BLUE bus Manufacture Since 1927
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Salaskie
Advanced Member
USA
453 Posts |
Posted - 02/16/2005 : 8:11:02 PM
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State of xxx: When taking the final school bus BTW test with either the instructor or DMV evaluator....If you put the bus in gear while your seat belt is unfastened, you are asked to set the park brake, place the bus in neutral, remove the key and leave the seat. Automatic failure. There is no second chance until retraining takes place.
It is the same on the road. Without a seatbelt on, the driver is not in full control of the bus. Same as endangering the students. |
Edited by - Salaskie on 03/17/2005 5:14:43 PM |
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1983WardFord
Top Member
USA
1395 Posts |
Posted - 02/17/2005 : 3:03:20 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Admin
SBF needs your opinion
Do you wear your seat belt when driving your bus? Why or why not? Do others at your operation wear their belts? What do they say about it? Is it a state or district requirement/mandate to wear belts? What are the penalties, if any? Do you think it's safer to wear the belts or better to not wear them? All opinions are welcomed and greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your input.
Sincerely,
SBF
I ALWAYS wear my seat belt when I'm driving. Why? Because it's a state law and also a good idea. I hate the idea of falling out of my seat while the bus is moving down the road with a load of children or if (God forbid) I was ever in an accident, I don't want to be thrown all around the bus. The only time I don't wear my seat belt is when I'm moving buses around the lot. I'm not going far at all and not moving very fast. Plus getting in a bus and putting on a seat belt only to have to take it off a minute later seems kinda silly. As far as I know, everyone else I work with wears their belts.
Ohio's seat belt law is written so that a person can only get fined for not wearing their seat belt only if they're pulled over for something else. I don't know what the penalties are.
Of course I think it's safer to wear seat belts.
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Due to the current economic condition, the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off until further notice. |
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IC-RE
Top Member
USA
4117 Posts |
Posted - 02/17/2005 : 4:37:08 PM
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| In Fairfax, our drivers are required to wear their belts, i have yet to see a driver without one! |
 bus 1980, a 2008 IC RE 300 for Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax, Virginia. |
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bosslady
Advanced Member
USA
336 Posts |
Posted - 02/18/2005 : 06:21:55 AM
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| Count Girl, you mentioned a seat belt cutter. Doesn't everyone have seat belt cutters mounted where it is easily availiable for the driver if they were in an accident and hanging. Or what if the kids who are in seatbelts needed out in a hurry and the driver couldn't get their seat belts open. We have seat belt cutters in each bus readily available for each driver to be able to reach if they are belted in their seats. GOOD IDEA for everyone. |
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Admin
Administrator
USA
1664 Posts |
Posted - 02/18/2005 : 09:28:20 AM
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Thank you all for your responses to our query about bus drivers and seat belts. The information you provided gave us some insight as to what's going on in the field and we greatly appreciate that. Thanks again.
Albert Neal
Assistant Editor |
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kato959
Senior Member
USA
59 Posts |
Posted - 03/19/2005 : 9:06:16 PM
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I missed this post but would like to reply anyway. I posted something similar last year and had some excellent response. My question was what to do about a co-worker who refused to wear a seatbelt just because he doesn't want to. I found it hard to understand why my employer allowed this when it is the law in my state. This has been going on now for three years. So for three years this fellow has driven all around the city and county and never been stopped. I believe that police look the other way all too often when it comes to school buses. I base this on the fact he has done this for three years, was report to police once..nothing done, was reported by a teachers aide to sheriff who patrols a school campus where the driver delivers kids...nothing done. And I notice when you go thru roadblocks, police tend to wave buses on quickly and look at other vehicles more thoroughly.
For three years, not one parent has even noticed he wears no seatbelt and when asked of bus aides why they rode with him knowing he was braking the law and not demanding he put it on or refusing to ride with him? They were afraid they could lose their job! Now since the employer knows the driver doesn't wear his seatbelt and does nothing, I must believe he condones this or he would not allow it. What else should I think? Don't get on your drivers or they may quit? We can't have that!!! The state spends probably millions of $$$$ on "buckle up, it's the law" campaigns. If the guy pulled up to pick up your kid with a cigarette in his mouth, you'd notice. No seatbelt on, no one notices...one exception...the 3 and 4 year olds notice. As a professional school bus driver I wear the seat to have better control of the bus in the event of an emergency, to lessen injury and I may be more useful in aiding those I am responsble for in a emergency, to set an example for the children...and....because it is the law. If my co worker wants to drive in his personal vechile with no seatbelt I don't care.But when he gets behind the wheel of a schoolbus with my kid, I do care. Sadly, I don't think many people seem to are about the seatbelt issue until of course, there is the fatal accident....and the driver wasn't wearing the seatbelt....
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YardBird
Advanced Member
USA
427 Posts |
Posted - 03/20/2005 : 07:06:13 AM
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Seat belt use is compulsory in CT, no matter what the vehicle.
Last I knew, school bus drivers could be fined $250.00 for failing to wear a seat belt here.
Back in 1987, we had a driver who never wore her belt and one morning as she was leaving the yard, her bus started bouncing on the gargantuan potholes and she was thrown out of her seat into the stepwell as her bus proceeded to crash into the office trailer. Needless to say-she had a lotta "splainin'" to do. |
Sure! I'll pick your kid up closer to the house... Widen your front door!
"I LOOOOOVE MY UNION!" |
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rltinkey
Senior Member
USA
140 Posts |
Posted - 03/20/2005 : 2:07:07 PM
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The wearing of seatbelts for drivers of school buses in the state of Oregon is the law. A school bus driver can be sited for not wearing their seatbelt while operating their bus.
As a driver trainer I state the importance of wearing seatbelts to all new trainees. As for seasoned drivers at our depot I perform two ride along performance evaluations and only once has a driver ever operated their vehicle with out first fastening their belt. After a quick comment the driver fasten their belt at the first stop intersection.
Several times a week either the lead mechanic or I or our dispatcher stand and watch the buses leave the depot as the drivers depart on their afternoon routes. We monitor the drivers perform pre-trips, speed on the lot, spacing between buses and if the drivers are wearing their seat belt.
Ray Tinkey
The Bus Guy
Driver Trainer / Third Party Tester
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kato959
Senior Member
USA
59 Posts |
Posted - 03/22/2005 : 6:03:35 PM
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Ray,
So..I can assume if one of your drivers wasn't wearing their seatbelt you would bring it to their attention? If this continued with the driver, what action would be taken?
Many of us have park outs where I work and there is little contact with the company. There are no meetings, no safety discussions, no feeling of teamwork or pride in what you do. But this is my problem as it is where I work at the moment. I have to deal with it.
I guess it may be a small issue to some, but I have lost respect for an employer who cannot or will not tell an employee that breaking the law and jeopardizing other's children will not be tolerated.....put the seatbelt on, no if ands or buts period. End of story.
Sounds to me like you run things right and I'll bet your drivers enjoy a sence of pride because of it. Not to say that drivers can't be a headache now and then....so maybe in spite of it?!!
Kato
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Can someone tell me...
