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Busrepair
Senior Member
121 Posts |
 Posted - 08/07/2003 : 09:21:19 AM
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Recently our department has had a lot of minor accidents. We are at a loss and need some input on what can be done to stop the accidents from happening. To give everyone some background on the accidents I have listed below some of them. All of them are different drivers and so that everyone knows, in the past two years we have been doing more training than any previous years. Training such as defensive driving. If anyone has any input it would be greatly appreciated.
accidents ---
1 -- Bus side swiped a parked car
2 -- Bus hit telephone pole
3 -- Bus side swiped a parked car ( mirror damage to car)
4 -- Bus hit pole at fuel station
5 -- Bus rear ended car
6 -- Bus hit mail box
These are a few of the recent accidents. All are within the last 9 months. |
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Busrepair
Senior Member
121 Posts |
Posted - 08/07/2003 : 09:23:00 AM
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| One thing I forgot to add. JK your input on this would be great. I much admire the help you have given other people in similar situations. |
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kd4jfd
Top Member
USA
1170 Posts |
Posted - 08/07/2003 : 10:43:37 AM
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| Seems to me that perhaps it's time for some retraining on bus size and positioning, and possibly mirror use. |
539 - Repair work in progress! |
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PHW
Top Member
USA
1345 Posts |
Posted - 08/07/2003 : 10:50:10 AM
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| Are most of these accidents with students on board or without. I have found that most of our accidents occur without students onboard and to which the drivers guard is down. |
PHW
Child Check For Life
Chock Wheels For Life
Proud American For Life |
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american busing 2
Advanced Member
322 Posts |
Posted - 08/07/2003 : 12:10:23 PM
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better fix driver skills
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HAVE A GREAT SUMMER.
GOOD LUCK IN THE 2006-2007 SCHOOL YEAR |
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80-RE4
Top Member
USA
5700 Posts |
Posted - 08/07/2003 : 12:11:50 PM
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I've got to add something, and I hope it doesn't make me sound like a bad driver. There have been several times, that I ask myself "how on earth did I make that turn, or how on earth did I get by" I think we've all had those experiences.
Here are some tips I would give:
If they are late, tell them not to rush. They should call in and let you know that they are running late. Perhaps they were in accidents because they thought
they would get in trouble for being late.
Tell them that- if they don't think the bus will fit, DON"T DO IT!!! There was a time I was on a road and I had doubts about making it, I called into dispatch, they sent someone down to help me squeeze by. Did it seem easy with someone guiding me, yes, could i have made it on my own, possibly, but why take the chance?
I think the saying goes like this: If it won't fit, don't commit, or something like that.
Rear-ending????? That's obvious, tell them not to tailgate. All I have to say to myself is, what If i was too close to a car, and they had stopped fast, And i went into them?????? I could kill a sleeping baby, a sleeping innocent baby that was in the back seat!! Don't ever tailgate!! Even if someone cuts you off, give yourself plenty of space!
I hope this helps a little.
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mr.dave
Advanced Member
USA
414 Posts |
Posted - 08/07/2003 : 6:43:54 PM
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As they say in football,"It is time to get back to the basics." Stress safety, excuss minor tardies, examine old routes for new hazards. Ask for driver feedback. Do whatever it takes to improve safety. My prayers are with you and your team that this will turn to be your safest year ever.
salom dave |
Shiny side up, greasy side down |
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NewBee Driver
Senior Member
USA
191 Posts |
Posted - 08/07/2003 : 7:26:07 PM
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As I think was already stated these all boil down to basic driving skills. Be they following to close, not watching the tail swing, or not using the mirrors it is all basic. A result of lazy drivers not following the Smith System.
One of the best solutions to this problem is random ride alongs or follow alongs. If the driver knows someone could be watching them, the very consept is enough to keep most on there toes. Make sure the drivers know that ride along are not a punishment but mearly a check ride that will help them fix minor problems before they become large ones. |
Driving Seattle To School - And Loving It!! |
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Busrepair
Senior Member
121 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2003 : 12:40:24 PM
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| Thanks to everyone for the replies. |
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macondriver
Top Member
USA
533 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2003 : 4:13:11 PM
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| give yourself space........if they are actually hitting phonepoles and rearending cars they are not giving themself enough space. i wonder also the ages and the number of years they have drove..point being, i spend alot of time n the bus andin the lot so i see alot of drivers....what i see is older drivers that refuse to listen to younger trainers or drivers that try to give advice on such things as backing in between two buses,,,,,,and BAM.......they hit one side then the other, i see drivers that have been driving for years that are to confident and drive like a bat out of hell, and have a fit if anything is said because ofter all they have been driving for years. and i have seen very new young drivers that just need more training that try to drive the bus like a car ......but i say the biggest reason is not keeping your eyes on the road, the mirrors and all the drivers around you..........youneed twelve pairs of eyes.....that will solve the proublem |
Driving my way to the top, in a big yellow bus...and proud of it. |
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rswboe
Top Member
USA
675 Posts |
Posted - 08/18/2003 : 10:33:56 AM
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| We have a similar problem and the insurance carrier is requiring the district to enroll all drivers in defensive driving program. You might want to look into a similar approach. |
Live each like it's going to be your last, one day you'll be right! |
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SaintSteven
Active Member
22 Posts |
Posted - 09/15/2003 : 6:48:15 PM
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If I could be so bold--while I agree many of these problems are driver error, it could also be due to insufficient training. When I got started in 1991, I had trouble because their idea of training was eight hours of classtime, then probably one hour of driving. Then, only a substitute, I was not used until two or three weeks later. Needless to say, I had some problems--and I'm surprised they kept me.
I really got better when I got a long-term sub route, then got my own route in the middle of the year. It was then I learned to judge distance better, and use my mirrors properly.
When we got a new director about two years later, he had an excellent suggestion: get new substitute drivers a week's time driving for seasoned drivers to give them extra practice. It might cost the district more--but less in insurance and repair costs.
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Topic |
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Accidents
