Schoolbussafety.com - Where your children's safety is our ultimate goal!

This is where we will be placing email replies that pertain to drivers, whether the writer claims the driver to good or bad, as we do have some very good school bus drivers out there.

One of your hot topics is how to improve safety when loading and unloading a school bus.You should look into a product called C.A.R.E.

This is a child detection system that has sensors mounted on the front, rear, and both sides of the school bus. The C.A.R.E. System also comes with a lighted monitor to show the driver when the alarm goes off, where the child has entered the danger zone area of a school bus. We were so impressed with the unit, we are making it standard equipment on all new bus purchases. A family that had their little girl killed by her school bus has placed the C.A.R.E. System on their web page (friend of aleana johnson) to help promote school bus safety. I hope this will help.

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I'm glad to see a website promoting safe school bus driving. I'm trying to find out how to get bus driving training. I want to be licensed to drive a school

bus for my church. Is the only training through schools? If you know . . . and don't have to go to a lot of trouble, please advise. THANKS!

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I have thought that busses should definetly have large legible phone numbers and unit numbers on the front rear and sides of each bus. CHILDRENS SAFETY IS NO. 1 I hear the local media praising the ability and skill of school bus drivers HA! they must have thier heads up their asses. I see these drivers all the time and they are not good drivers.I see shool bus drivers in different states as well as Il. shool bus drivers are dangerous. If there is someone who thinks they are safe all they need to do is drive around in a semi for a couple of weeks and they will probably have a much different oppinion. It is very scary the things these drivers do. Especially when they are headed back to the bus barn or to meet at the local donut shop. Pay attention people!!! watch how school bus drivers are really driving. i.e. crossing railroad tracks whithout opening doors and I can go on and on. Watch them people! I dare you.

Subj: school bus safety/crossing guards safety
Date: 7/29/2001 7:47:09 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: HughesBj007
To: ELUBO

we are starting a new school year and this year we have very large numbers on the back and front of our buses, so if someone does call in by the number on the back of the bus they will have the correct number of the bus, I am very concerned about our reds and yellows being ran by mortorist, coming around our buses while they are loading and unloading our children. Garland Texas lost a crossing guard this passed school year his time was up at the crossing but there was a late comer and he stayed to help the student get across the street and got killed. We need stronger laws for all school personal, we need or I would like to know where to find good training material for school crossing guards for the state of Texas, Our new director at Rockwall ISD this year is doing a wonderful job of training our bus drivers this year, our trainers have been sent for extensive training, and our drivers are getting that before school starts Auguest 16, this is the first time I have viewed your web site and must say I like it very Much. Please any information you can give me and our district on crossing guards/bus drivers, we need very much thanks for all the good info. Have a great school year

B.J. Hughes Rockwall ISD, Rockwall Texas

One of your hot topics is how to improve safety when loading and unloading a school bus.You should look into a product called C.A.R.E.

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I AM A FORMER SCHOOL BUS DRIVER FROM MISSISSIPPI I HAD K-12 GRADE ON MY BUS (45 STUDENTS, 25 HIGH SCHOOL AND 20 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS) AND THE THOUGHT OF SEAT BELTS ON SCHOOL BUSES SCARES ME. IF THESE WAS AN ACCIDENT AND I WAS HURT OR KILLED, MOST OF THE STUDENTS WOULD PANIC. AND IF THERE WAS A FIRE I COULD NOT UNBUCKLE THE STUDENTS FAST ENOUGH. SOME BUSES HAVE ALL ELEMENTARY STUDENTS AND IT WOULD DANGEROUS FOR SELT BELTS TO BE INSTALLED. IF I WAS STILL DRIVING AND SEAT BELTS WERE INSTALLED I WOULD QUIT. I COULD NOT LIVE WITH MYSELF IF I WAS DRIVING AND THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT AND I COULD NOT GET ALL OF MY CHILDREN OFF IN TIME. THAT IS WHY I AM TOTALLY AGAINST SEAT BELTS ON SCHOOL BUSES . IF CHILDREN STAYED SEATED THEN THERE WOULD BE LESS INJURIES BUT TOO MANY CHILDREN DO NOT AND THE DRIVERS DO NOT GET ENOUGH HELP FROM PARENTS AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS ON THE PROBLEM

I think you might be interested in checking out the statistics of school bus testing requirements, of other states, and the statistics that go with them. I am a school bus driver in the State of California, and I am proud to say we are the toughest when it comes to school bus regulations. We are required to take written Commercial driving tests at both the Department of Motor Vehicles and the California Highway Patrol, then we take a 3 hour drive test with a California Highway Patrol School Bus Safety Officer, and he determines if we are competent. We are required to take a 40 hour course in order to take any test to start with and then we take 10 hours of training each year, in order to maintain our license. We are required to take random drug screens and to take a physical exam every 2 years. To top that off , we have a thorough background with the Department of Justice, and if necessary, the F.B.I.

I think a lot of states could learn a lot from California. We have the best record for safety in the United States.

Subj: School bus safety at the YMCADate: 11/16/2000 10:18:02 AM Eastern Standard Time

You may remember me from GMCnet. I am the Associate Exec at the Stamford YMCA and struggle with the school bus safety issue every day. We currently use a service which brings kids to the Y after school in 15 passenger vans and GMC sized limo/busses. In addition, we have a 15 passenger bus which is used for the Teens.

Following much discussion and me almost loosing my job because of my stance, last year at this time, we ordered a 25 passenger Thomas bus. It still has not arrived, though it is due soon. Safety is my greatest concern. Finaces second, though it will save us considerable money. I also arranged to have our insurance company provide bi-annual training for our van drivers.

In this area, drivers are being paid $25-30 per hour and receive $2000-3000 signing bonuses. Help is hard to find in these parts. Last year I was sitting in my office, looking out the window and the driver of a 25 passenger limo/bus knocked down the lamp post in front of our building. The service had sent a driver, who spoke no english, and had an expired license (regular passenger). I got on my cell phone and fired the company immediately. The driver got a $900 ticket.

Following my recommedations and concerns for providing a safe bus, this summer, we rented a bus (40 passenger) for our camp and hired a Laidlaw driver with 2 yrs experience. During the summer he dented the side of the bus, twice, backed it into the side of our garage and, trying to fit around the new light post (previously knocked down above) and hit a parked van, five times.

What I am doing is hiring our own people to drive, having them trained and putting them on the road. This way I know what we have behind the wheel. Average years with us is 5 and we have only had one incident,where our van backed up into a car, which belonged to the driver's sister!

I would appreciate your input into our 25 passenger Thomas bus and if you have any printed guidelines for operation or training that we can do beyond the licensing requirements, I would appreciate it.

We will publish email stories received recent emails at beginningSubj: Concern for children on bus

Subj: (no subject)
Date: 10/3/2000 10:08:58 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Eliwjan
To: ELUBO

My name is Eli W. Brashear. I have driven a school bus for three years now in Hazard,Ky. The roads here are crooked, steep, and narrow. There was a bus driver killed last week in a neighboring county When he hit a oncoming eighteen wheeler head on. The driver had somewhere around thirty years driving experience. The Kentucky State Police have determined that the only reason for this accident was a distraction caused by the students. I would like to see legislation passed that would require a disciplinary monitor on each bus that would assume responsability for a full range of discipline. The bus should accommodate the monitor with a seat in the front right side of the bus facing the students at all times. The mirror above the drivers head should be removed to enable the driver to keep his eyes on the road. I feel that it is rediculous to expect the driver to do his/her job to the degree of 100% safety. unless these changes are made.

Eli W. Brashear

Subj: school bus safety
Date: 9/27/2000 9:12:49 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: bugle10@home.com (Ken)
To: elubo@lubo.com

First of all, I' m a parent. Second, I am a school bus driver and last, I'm a driver trainer.
In order to get professional drivers, we are going to have to pay professional wages!
I live in the great state of Wyoming and we here in the Rocky Mountain Region, are suffering with the shortage of bus drivers. Who would want the hours that I school bus driver has, who would want the lack of pay we get when we can work for a fast food restaurant for the same pay and not the responsibility. Who wants to be off all summer with no paycheck?????
Here in Cheyenne, we are not contracted drivers with leased busses. We are employees for the local school district. We run 104 busses, transporting 3500 students to school everyday. We have a school enrollment of 10,000 students. We travel over 1million miles a year because of the geographics of the area. To go to a high school football game, it is not uncommon to have to travel 700 miles round trip.
But because Wyoming is a Right to Work State, are wages are low,(starting at $7.36 per hour), however, most of the routes are 8 hours a day. (4 in the morning and 4 in the evening). We do have benefits, insurance, retirement and sick leave. WE do have a working negotiated agreement between the Transportation Department and the School Board, but, If we were to Strike for higher wages, the School Board can terminate us and replace us and there is nothing we can do.
So, it makes it real hard to hire quality drivers when they can "flip burgers" for the same wages and not nearly the responsibility.
This problem is nation wide. Not just here in Wyoming.
Parents want quality drivers for the children, they are going to have to open up their pocket books!

Brenda Badgley
Driver Trainer-Laramie County School District #1
Cheyenne, WY

Date: 9/26/00 9:10:28 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Famjab
To: ELUBO

I'm a mom with a child riding a school bus..
All the ideas on your website are great..

I still have questions.. how do we educate..
1) the children riding the bus,
2) the parents of the unruly children on the bus

about school bus safety..
We have great bus drivers.. who are doing their very best to care for our children - usually in rush hours..
And the children (mine included) are misbehaving..

This is not what I have taught my child.. talking, begging, pleading does no good.. because she's following the example of the other kids.. who have been bullying, disrespecting the driver, and just terrorizing everyone for at least 2 years on this bus route.

Because of the school systems' rules about confidentiality and privacy for the students we aren't able to contact the family of the children who seem to be the instigators.

I'm ready to have a meeting with the families/parents of the children I can contact.. but what good will that do if the children continue to be disruptive on the bus?

I would be grateful for any suggestions..
(I grew up riding a school bus for 12 years of school.. never once did anyone get 'put off' of our bus)
I have family relatives driving school buses.. and have a great respect, and admiration for the folks willing to provide this service to my child.

Thank you for your help,
JoBouler
famjab@aol.com

Subj: Re: Help -Reply
Date: 9/26/00 10:33:41 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: MaryRose.Nelson@DOT.STATE.NJ.US (Mary Rose Nelson)
To: elubo@lubo.com

Dear Mr. Lubowicki,
Thank you for your e-mail inquiry. School busses are required to have the name of the bus company on the sides of the bus and the municipality that they are operated from. Some bus companies have locations throughout the state, so they register a group of vehicles from each location. The bus would bear the town location from which it is registered. Phone numbers are not required. If you cannot find the bus company in the phone book, you can contact the local school board if the bus is making stops in your area. They should be able to provide a phone number for the company, since they issue the transportation contracts. If you observe a Motor Vehicle infraction being committed by the driver, get the license plate number and notify the police.

Regards,
Mary Rose Nelson

Subj: SCHOOL BUS WITH PHONE #
Date: 9/21/00 7:49:06 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: regifts@farmerstel.com (Robbin Giles)
To: elubo@lubo.com

I AM A VETERAN DRIVER OF 16 YEARS (AM WORKING ON MY 17). I HAVE NO
OBJECTION FOR MY NUMBER OR NAME BEING ON THE BACK. HOW ABOUT ON SOME OF
THE STUPID CARS THAT PASS SCHOOL BUSES WHEN WE ARE STOPPED AND HAVE ALL OF
OUR SIGNALS OPERATING CORRECTLY?

NO SEAT BELTS PLEASE. I UNDERSTAND WHAT SOME PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT "YOU
ARE REQUIRED TO WEAR IN YOUR PRIVATE CAR". HAVE YOU RODE ON A SCHOOL BUS
LATELY? I TRANSPORT CHILDREN FROM THE AGES OF K - 12 GRADES, ALL AT ONE
TIME, WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF AN AIDE ON THE BUS. IT WOULD BE MY
RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BELTS ARE AND STAY FASTENED THE ENTIRE
TRIP. THAT NO ONE USES AN EMPTY BELT TO SWING AROUND AND HIT A NEIGHBORS
HEAD. WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY, EVERYONE NEEDS OFF THE BUS AT
ONCE. BUCKLES STICK, PEOPLE ARE SCARED AND CAN'T UNFASTEN THE BELTS.
ALONG WITH THE OTHER STUDENTS THAT I TRANSPORT, I ALSO HAVE 2 IN
WHEELCHAIRS AND THAT ALONE HAS SLOWED DOWN MY TIME IN EMERGENCY DRILLS. I
DON'T NEED OR WANT 54 MORE HEADACHES.

IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN ON A BUS LATELY, TRY IT. YOU WILL HAVE YOUR EYES
OPENED FOR YOU.

ROBBIN

Subj: School Bus Safety
Date: 9/17/00 7:06:11 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Jlrister
To: ELUBO

File: OSHA Complaint.doc (24064 bytes)
DL Time (26400 bps): < 1 minute

Hello! I enjoyed your web site.

My name is Jinnifer Rister, and I am one of seven former transportation employees in Flagstaf, Arizona who were fired for refusing to drive while overly fatigued and for talking to the media about safety concerns in the department.

We have since formed "The School Safety Drivers" (although not an official nonprofit), and are committed to doing whatever it takes to force Flagstaff Unified School District to improving conditions within the department to make it as safe as possible for the students who ride their buses.

We have filed a Federal Lawsuit against the district and filed a complaint with OSHA citing Federal Regulations, Title 49, Sec. 392.3.
Ill or fatigued operator. "No driver shall operate a commercial motor vehicle, and a motor carrier shall not require or permit a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle, while the driver's ability or alertness is so impaired, or so likely to become impaired, through fatigue, illness, or any other cause, as to make it unsafe for him/her to begin or continue to operate the commercial motor vehicle." CFR, Title 49, Chapter III, Sec. 392.3.
On September 12, I received a letter from OSHA acknowledging our complaint and notifying us that a complete investigation has begun. OSHA is about the tenth door we've knocked on to try and get some help in solving this matter. We've gone to the State Attorney General, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Arizona Department of Public Safety, U.S. Tranportation Department, U.S. Office of the Inspector General and a few others. Just wanted you to know that with A LOT of persistence anything is possible.

There are others who care about the safety of children who ride our buses. You are not alone. Hope you'll add our link to your site.
Web Site Address: communities.msn.com/theschoolsafetydrivers

Anything I can ever do to assist you in your quest. Feel free to contact me.
Jinnifer Rister
2901 Grove St.
Evansville, IN 47710
812-424-5415
jlrister@aol.com

"Safety of Children
on School Buses
Demands the HIGHEST
Standard of Care"

Best Wishes for a FUN & SAFE 2000-2001 school year.

Subj: cc to a letter to the Superinttendent, RE: School Bus Transportation
Date: 9/14/00 3:20:12 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: kmccooe@MetLife.com (Kathleen H McCooe)
To: elubo@lubo.com

---------------------- Forwarded by Kathleen H McCooe/Mpc/MetLife/US on
09/14/2000 03:19 PM ---------------------------

Kathleen H McCooe
09/11/2000 03:55 PM

To: webmaster@cabe.org, webmaster@doublea.com, wcone@ci.rocky-hill.ct.us
cc:
Subject: cc to a letter to the Superinttendent, RE: School Bus
Transportation
Bus Trip 13, Little Oak Lane/Copperbeach, Rocky Hill, CT

September 11, 2000

Mr. Turansky
Board of Education
PO Box 627
Rocky Hill, CT 06067

Dear Mr. Turansky:

I am writing to follow up on a phone call that I made to your office this
morning regarding bus trip 13. This bus driven by Debe Grant of AA
transportation, was 15 minutes late coming to the bus stop of Little Oak
and Copperbeach. When he stopped he stopped 4 feet from the Stop area the
children ran to the bus. Mr. Grant has his door to the bus opened, when he
saw the children running he closed the door, and almost hit a fifth grader.
After yelling to get in line, he then re-opened the door. Once all the
children were on the bus I asked him why he was so late. His answer was
that he was not late and when I questioned him further he closed his door
and then drove off.

Due to this behavior I went to West Hill School. I quickly informed Mr.
Pear the school Principal as well as my son's Kindergarten teacher. I was
not able to get to my other son's 2nd grade teacher. But I did wait til
the bus arrived which was at 8:35am. My children and the other children
from my neighborhood got off the bus and indicated that they were scared.
My 2nd grader told me they went to Burger king in Wethersfield!!!

Rocky Hill is not that big of a town that he need to go all the way to
Burger King to turn around. When I called double AA transportation they
were aware that Mr. Grant got lost and through the radio got the bus back
to West Hill School. When I entrust my children to a town School bus I
entrust that they are kept safe and will reach their proper destination.

There is no excuse that this bus driver got lost!!!! My children are 5 and
7. This bus driver employed by Double AA transportation should have been
shown the route prior to the school year. If he was new or if this was a
new route then someone from the board of education or clearly the Bus
Company should have been there with him. Last year we had a bus driver,
her name is Ruth, who clearly knew the route both ways and was wonderful.
Ruth was the bus driver in the A.M. last week however she was not today,
and has not been the returning bus driver in the P.M. On the first day of
School September 5th, My older son did not return home until 3:55pm I
believe Mr. Grant drove the bus then as well. The children stated he did
not know where he was going.

The children on this bus as well as many other parents and myself do not
need this type of concern. I believe the Board of Education should take
this incident as well as any other incidents reported the past week from
several other routes that double AA transportation need to take a better
look at the routes as well as their bus drivers. If their reply is that
they find it hard to find drivers, then who are they employing to drive our
small children around!!!.

I would be willing to take time away from my full time job at MetLife Auto
and Home Insurance to ensure that all the bus routes are better marked and
that the bus drivers are fully aware of where they need to be and when.

I lost 45 minutes today from my job, just to ensure that my children were
safe. And when I brought my complaints to your office as well as that of
AA transportation, I was not given any satisfaction.

If I did not work full time and my husband didn't stay home with my
16-month-old I would take our children to school and have them picked up.
However since the town offers this service and since I pay taxes in my town
I really do not feel I should be put into this position. I have lived in
Rocky Hill since 1985. I bought my Condo at 50 Little Oak Lane in 1991 and
have lived there since, and have had my three sons in this time. I love
Rocky Hill and I wanted to stay, despite the fact that my Condo dropped
significantly in price, because of the wonderful School System and Teachers
in Rocky Hill.

I believe my children are obtaining the best start to their education, but
why do I need to fear when my children get onto their School Bus. Yes
today even though the bus driver got lost, they made it to school safely
and were unharmed. Can we hope the same happens, tomorrow the next day or
in the future??? You indicated that when you call the Bus Company that
they told you the bus driver got disoriented. Human error you called it.
I still find this hard to understand when you are responsible for small
children.

With so many issues surrounding Schools today, Safety should be our Number
One concern. If the bus Driver is not familiar with a route then have
someone from the Bus Company or Board to ensure this especially in the
first few weeks of the school year. If not enough board members then look
for parent support. You indicated that there would not be enough room to
have a parent ride the bus. This is another issue that should be addressed
then. Why are the School busses so crowded???

I work Full Time, am a mother to three children, take study at home courses
and I teach CCD for my church on Saturdays' at West Hill School and am a
Faith Partner to two candidates who are in our High School, in our
Confirmation program at my Church. My Husband stays at home to raise our
three children as the cost of Daycare is too high, and he is also a
Volunteer Firefighter in Town. With all this going on I feel that I still
need to be more involved and I will therefore join the PTO as well as look
into becoming a member of the School Board in the year 2001.

I appreciate that we discussed this over the phone, but I would also like
your written response. As well as written response from Double AA
Transportation.

Sincerely,

Kathleen H. McCooe
50 Little Oak Lane
Rocky Hill, CT 06067
(860) 529-0307

j: BRAKE SAFETY
Date: 9/3/00 12:12:01 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Brakealert
To: ELUBO

ONE OF THE MOST OFTEN OVERLOOKED FACTORS IN THE SAFETY OF SCHOOL BUSES IS THEIR BRAKING ABILITY. MOST DISTRICTS SIMPLY QUOTE A PRICE THEY ARE WILLING TO PAY AND SUBMIT IT TO THE MANFACTURERS AND THE ONE WILLING TO BUILD FOR THAT PRICE GETS THE BID. COST BECOMES THE FACTOR NOT WHAT IS IN THE BUS. THE GOVERNMENT HAS MANDATED ABS ON THE BRAKING SYSTEM, AND NOW WE SEE A PRESS RELEASE SAYING SOME 300,000 DEFECTIVE ABS SYSTEMS ARE OUT IN THE MARKET PLACE AND PROBABLY AFFECTING SOME 6000 SCHOOL BUSES. THIS IS SPITE OF A PRODUCT ON THE MARKET CALLED THE BX-100 WHICH WORKS BOTH ON HYDRAULIC AND AIR BRAKE SYSTEM. A SMALL MECHANICAL DEVICE IS INSTALLED THAT ABSORBS SHOCK WAVES THUS EQUALIZING THE BRAKING POWER TO EACH WHEEL. THE RESULTS ARE STRAIGHTER, FASTER AND MORE CONTROL STOPS EVEN WITH THE PANIC STOPS. THE PRODUCT HAS BEEN TESTED FOR YEARS BY MAJOR COMPANIES AND MAJOR TEST CENTERS AND YET NHSTA AND THE OEM'S REFUSE TO EVEN LISTEN. OUR LATEST TEST INVOLVED A POLICE CRUISER AT THE MINNESOTA HIGHWAY SAFETY CENTER. THE RESULTS WERE SO IMPRESSIVE THAT THE 2 DRIVING INSTRUCTORS, WHO TRAIN SCHOOL BUS OPERATORS AND MANY OTHER CATEGORIES, WOULD NOT LET US LEAVE UNTIL WE INSTALL A UNIT ON THEIR PERSONAL VEHICLES. THE UNIT AT PRESENT IS A RETROFIT THAT GOES ON THE HYDRAULIC OR AIR BRAKE SYSTEM IN 20 MINUTES IF HYDRAULIC AND LONGER FOR THE AIR BRAKES AS HERE A UNIT MUST BE PLACED ON EACH BRAKING AXLE.

ALMOST 30 YEARS OF TESTING CAN BEST BE SUMMARIZED IN THE CONCLUSIONS REACHED AT THE NEVADA AUTOMOTIVE TEST CENTER WHERE THEY TESTED THE BX-100 ON AN 18 WHEELER:

"THE RESULTS OF THIS TEST SHOW A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN THE CONTROLLED STOPS AT BOTH 60 AND 30 MPH. THE BX-100 EQUIPPED SYSTEM WAS ABLE TO STOP IN A SHORTER DISTANCE AT A HIGHER DECELERATION RATE THAN THE STANDARD EQUIPMENT. DURING THE PANIC STOPS, AS IMMINENT 'JACK-KNIFE' OCCURRED, THE DRIVER RELEASED THE BRAKES AND RE-APPLIED THEM TO MAINTAIN VEHICLE CONTROL IN HIS LANE. THE SYSTEM PROVIDES THE BRAKES A 'FEEL' AND ALLOWS THE DRIVER TO CONTROL TIRE LOCK UP, PRIMARILY SIDE TO SIDE AT EACH AXLE. WITHOUT THE SYSTEM, THE DRIVER COULD NOT AVOID SOME TIRE LOCK UP IN AN UNPREDICTABLE SEQUENCE.

COULD YOU ASK FOR MORE FROM A BRAKING SYSTEM?

WE STAND READY TO MEET WITH ANYONE, ANYWHERE TO JUSTIFY OUR STATEMENTS IN THIS DOCUMENT.

DICK INCE
C & J TECHNOLOGY INC.
9010 PILLSBURY S
MPLS. MN 55420
1-800-228-7349
E MAIL BRAKEALERT@AOL.COM

Subj: (no subject)
Date: 7/30/00 9:16:42 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Gerbie123@cs.com
To: ELUBO

Seat belts on school buses is a horrible idea....have you ever driven or riden on a full bus....they seat either 65 or 89 children at a time.

How do you plan to make sure all 65 kids are buckled up? Can you say for sure that no student won't use a seat belt as a weapon against another student? What happens if those buckled up kids need to get off the bus quickly in an emergency?.....what is one bus driver going to do?

I am a school bus driver and believe me, my number one thought everyday is how to keep kids safe. Don't make my job harder....seat belts are NOT the answer, good drivers, with good driving records, with good pay (to keep the long term ones) is a better answer.......

GK

Subj: 5 lane highways
Date: 7/28/00 7:23:43 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: silent14@email.msn.com (silent14)
To: elubo@lubo.com

Hi there.
My name is John legus and I am a school bus driver in niles Michigan. In my daily routes (as well as others) I make a stop along a stretch of highway which contains 5 lanes (at one point 6) of traffic. The laws says that all lanes must stop for a school bus while its red lights are flashing, this is not what happens at all. In a 8 day period we had a toatl of 74 stop arm violators (we only stop on this roadway 14 times). Our drivers have been in contact with the state about this issue and have gotten very little help. The Michigan Department of Transportation stated that there is a law against posting signs reguarding this kind if issue. Wehave gotten very little police assistance in this matter and the problem continues. i am very close with my group and would be tore apart if anything were to happen to them. I know that we are not the only area facing this problem, if you know of anything we could try please let me know. thank you
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Laidlaw posted a net loss in the quarter of $542.5 million or $1.66 a share, compared with a net loss $227.2 million or 69 cents a share for the 1999 period.

The Burlington, Ontario-based company posted a loss from continuing operations of $228.4 million or 70 cents a share, compared with earnings of $60 million or 18 cents a share over the same period last year.

Laidlaw wrote down the value of its health-care operations by $314.1 million "to quell potential purchasers' continued concerns about the value of future revenue streams from ambulance services provided to (U.S.) Medicare recipients," the company said in a statement.

Three one-time items totaling $232.8 million after tax were recorded during the quarter, the company said.

Subj: School Busses - How's My Driving?
Date: 7/21/00 11:18:04 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: paulf@safeteefirst.com (Paul Farrell)
Reply-to: paulf@safeteefirst.com
To: elubo@lubo.com
CC: dlessnau@ibm.net

Hi, I saw your web page today
(http://hometown.aol.com/elubo/auto2/index.htm) and wanted to write to you.

I am the director of marketing for SafetyFirst.com (www.safeteefirst.com).
We provide safety and regulatory solutions for transportation firms.

We do have "how's my driving?" decals in place on some school bus fleets,
but some states have laws prohibiting the application of any type of
signs/decals (including ours). As far as we can tell, about ten states
allow the decals (TX, KS, etc.)

The program has been validated by six insurance carriers: Fireman's Fund,
Hanover, Crum&Forster, John Deere Transportation (now part of Sentry
Insurance), Great West and Cornhill (UK based). The most conservative
findings were reported by Fireman's Fund (who had the largest, most diverse
study group) - when the motorist observation reports are discussed with the
commercial drivers, accidents went down an average of 22%! (Eliminate two
out of ten accidents is not bad - just by coaching drivers to perform their
best).

Did you know that 80% of the drivers in a fleet with decals never get a
negative report? 10% get one call during their career, and the remaining
10% get multiple calls about consistent risk taking behaviors such as
tailgaiting, ignoring traffic control devices, etc.!

Our other product is an Internet based safety and compliance reporting
system (www.oscersystem.com). Many school bus fleets were exempted from the
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs), but a recent change in
the law now requires them to be compliant (even if owned/operated by a
municipality). I am sorry to say that many are far from being compliant,
and some still beleive that they are exempt.

Would I put my children on a school bus? I don't know. My mother in law
works for a district that manages safety very well, but I've also seen the
dark side, too. We put a lot of trust in these drivers and most are very
dedicated to their job and protecting the kids, but i would feel better
knowing that there is a real safety program in place that intervenes BEFORE
losses happen.

FYI - One of your "link to" pages mentions Laidlaw - did you know that they
are a Canadian firm? Their current financial status may have nothing to do
with their commitment to safety, but you may want to check out news about
them at www.hoovers.com or their own site www.laidlaw.com It seems as
though their pupil transportation services are doing well, and their
financial issues are related to healthcare and hazardous material
transportation divisions.

Feel free to call on us if we can provide more information.

Paul Farrell
Director of Marketing
SafetyFirst.com

Make comments to elubo@lubo.com

Subj: school bus safety
Date: 6/13/00 10:22:37 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Haymaybabygirl99
To: ELUBO

I understand what you are saying,but do you realize what type of danger you'd
be putting kids in if buses were equiped with seat belts.todays kids would use them
as weapons against other riders.half of them would refuse to wear them.it would also put alot of stress on the driver in an accident.lets say the bus caught on fire,most buses have a capaciaty of 66+ .it is are job as a driver to get the kids out of danger
and into a safer enviroment,we don't have time to unbuckle 66+ paniced kids in a smoke filled bus. what if the bus falls into water,again 6yr to 12yr kids unbuckling
seats would be the last thing a driver is thinking about when a bus is emerged in water . think about the children's true safety,and not just one accident where a kid
fell on the floor and bump his head. at least they were able to get up without feeling
tied down.

Innovative New Safety Products!
Date: 5/29/00 12:37:20 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Scott@CRSelectronics.com (Scott Riesebosch)
To: elubo@lubo.com

Hello!

This email was sent to you to because you are involved in pupil
transportation. CRS Electronics is proud to announce 2 new innovative
safety products for pupil transportation.

The ALL NEW CR2A Child Reminder System™ is making strong gains due to its
radically different and more effective method of making sure drivers check
for sleeping children. It is easier to install than any other system on the
market, offers VASTLY superior protection, has more features, and retails
for under $40. School districts, contractors, and bus drivers nationwide
are turning to the CR2A to make absolutely certain nobody EVER forgets to
check a bus for sleeping children.

In addition, our new Strobing LEDs™ warning lights are now ready for
delivery. These new warning lights were an instant success at the NAPT
tradeshow in Denver. ALL of the bus body manufacturers at the show indicated
that they would be adding these units to their optional equipment lists as
soon as possible. These new warning lights combine the high efficiency and
long life expectancy of LEDs with the attention grabbing, authoritative
effect of strobe lights. Our Strobing LEDs™ warning lights are designed to
be a direct replacement for incandescent bulb warning lights. They
self-generate multiple flash patterns and installation takes about 5 to 10
minutes each. Just one flash will convince anyone of their superior
visibility over standard lighting. You can download a comparison video from
our website and see for yourself! Just visit http://www.crselectronics.com
and go to the products page.

Additional products are scheduled for release in the next few months and are
expected to generate even more enthusiasm and excitement throughout the
industry. Please contact us on our toll free number for more information or
visit our website.

Best regards,

Scott Riesebosch
Technical Marketing,
CRS Electronics

Email: Scott@CRSelectronics.com
Website: www.CRSelectronics.com
Toll Free (North America) : 1-888-330-6786

I have been involved in pupil transportation since 1965. I have worn many hats in the past and am now a training instructor/safety officer and still drive a school bus. What can I do to help?

Date: 11/18/99 8:22:31 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: SChang52

I think this is a great idea. There are some wreckless drivers out there. Also, speaking of safety, do you have any idea whom I can contact regarding granting permission for bus drivers entering private property. My children have a half mile walk from the drop off to home - and my concern is the weight of book bags (medical/health), instruments and safety issue from the long walk. South Area Transportation denied my request and I want to take it higher up. Any suggestions will be helpful.
Thank you.

Date: 11/18/99 9:23:23 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: LCrimmins

I am from Norwood, Ma and found you when looking for info about violence in schools and on school buses. Who are you and where are you from?

Date:    11/18/99 11:10:11 PM Eastern Standard Time

Hi I have written you lately, my name is Tom and of 9 years of driving I see that if you put phone #,s on the back of buses you will really open up a can of worms. maybe I see my side as there are many. I believe you would be getting calls from people who really don't know much about driving school buses. To say i am a very careful driver but i do and have seen where some people call in to transportaion with things that really they know nothing about. i do see the safety aspect of what you are saying. I do believe trucks and over the road vehicles it works even on my charter bus. What we really need to do is finding ways to make our job easier. i have seen several drivers complain about emergency buzzers that the kids like to play with. We all know it is the biggest nerve noise there is. i believe buses should have lights on the dash to let us know which buzzers are going off that way it would cut down on the nerve wreckening shocks a driver goes through, especially when you have a sub runniong your route.: Thank you; Tom

Date:    11/20/99 5:41:06 PM Eastern Standard Time
From:    Shopgirl356

I don't quite get the point of your school bus safety web page. Where I live, if someone has a comment about a certain bus driver's habits, it's not hard to get a hold of someone. They call the school or the bus company. Buses are not hard to identify as they each have a number on all sides. I also don't get your point about buses being leased? What difference does this make?
Thanks
Janie Pgh PA

Date: 11/20/99 9:11:03 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: Shopgirl356
I don't know where you live, I live in Pennsylvania. Here it is a state law that the name of the company that is responsible for the driver must be on both sides of the bus. No phone number, but the company name. People do call our company as well as the schools if they have a comment on a driver. We do get positive comments as well as negative ones. As far as the shortage of drivers, the law says buses under 10 passengers do not need a CDL, and that is just the law. It doesn't have anything to do with a driver shortage.

Ewing, NJ--           School bus with 46 aboard overturns
Franklin, NJ--        two school buses drag racing
Franklin, NJ--        School bus leaves the scene after sideswiping two cars
Berkely Hts, NJ-- Husband who is a school bus driver, drives wife   to work, who is also a school bus driver.                             Wife later summoned for (DWI)

Bus fumes send 21 sickened students to area hospitals. Bus impounded by Edison police pending and investigation by the New Jersey Stat Police Commercial Carrier Inspection unit.

Subj:    nice site
Date:    12/6/99 2:57:15 PM Eastern Standard Time
From:    shields@skitsap.wednet.edu (Michael Shields)

This is a very attractive e-mail site. The graphics and lay out are good.
Your desire is to improve safety. What is your focus area? The phone numbers
on buses, writing your legislators about?, spread what word?. Let me know. I
am unclear about what we should help with. I understand from the school bus
web sites that school bus transportation is one of the safest. Is that not
so? Help me understand.

Subj:    visited your site
Date:    12/8/99 8:14:51 AM Eastern Standard Time
From:    vbct@bom7.vsnl.net.in (ARUN CHAWLA)
To:    elubo@lubo.com

I am a school bus contractor , having own fleet of buses .I have visited
your site it is quite impressive , it guide me lot to think about
behaviour of children and school bus drivers.
You please note my e-mail No. in future if you can send latest in
school buses or related oprations.
Thanks.

Arun Chawla.
B-104, Arena ,
Lokhandwala Complex,
Andheri-w, Mumbai-58
INDIA.

Date: 12/9/99 11:17:29 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: Seona197

I do not understand the purpose of your website. It appears to me that you are promoting problems rather than solutions. I have been driving a school bus for 2 years and believe me if anyone thinks I am doing anything wrong I hear about it. People call in to tell on you for everything from kids standing up to kids doing things at bus stop before or after you have arrived or gone.
We need parent involvement in our schools everywhere but I feel putting phone #'s on buses is just asking for more complaints.
We already have enough to worry about; Student safety on and off the bus, watching for other drivers, people running stop arms every day, avoiding accidents in general, and staying on schedule.
If you want to help the safety issues ride a bus with your kids on day (Most transportation departments would love to have you).
Talk to your kids about bus safety and their responsibility to be a good citizen.
Thank You for listening to my view,
Seona

    SchoolBusSafety.com
Date:    12/9/99 1:21:37 PM Eastern Standard Time
From:    dalej@safetyvision.com (Dale Jeffery)

Interesting Site ! But like a few others, I want to know what you're
looking to promote (besides awareness) so that I can help you better.

I'm Marketing Director for Safety Vision, Inc., the largest distributor
of mobile vision and surveillance equipment in North America. Like you,
we're extremely interested in enhancing school bus safety. Safety Vision
manufactures and distributes The Observer(TM), an on-board surveillance
system which records incidents on the bus and provides a number of
"black box" functions. Our site is at www.safetyvision.com.

Tell me how we can participate.

Dale Jeffery
dalej@safetyvision.com.

Bus drivers should wait until the children sit down, before moving the bus.

Subj:    Needing info
Date:    12/15/99 1:21:54 PM Eastern Standard Time
From:    phyllis_redhouse@qm.kayenta.k12.az.us (Phyllis Redhouse)

I am intereted in finding out if there is a seminar on bus accidentsgiven in or around the four corners area. I am would like to get ourdepartment to attend a workshop in the areas of bus safety. e-mail memore with information on how I could find out. Our town is small with a population of 9,000 and need more training in bus safety. Our bus routes ranges from 10 miles to 120 miles round trip. thank you c.todecheene

Subj:    seat belts
Date:    4/2/00 5:37:59 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From:    Charley922
To:    ELUBO

hi
i am a grandmother my daughter and I were talking about seat belts on buses, our children are taught to put their seat belts on when they get into a car but what about buses? my grandson is very small right now he is belted in because he is only 4 mi law requreds he be belted in but when he goes to kindergarden in sept he will not, were wondering what we could do to change this,
thank you
--------------------

Subj: Web Site
Date: 5/11/00 3:30:13 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: MEBusGuy@cs.com
To: ELUBO

Your web site seems to have an accusatory flare. It tends to examine only emotional sides of issues, and uses some rare negative driver events.

FACT: School Bus transportation remains the SAFEST FORM of surface transportation in the US. FACT: All school bus carriers (public and contract) in New York, must display the operator's office number on the rear of the bus (buses purchased after 9/98). FACT: There is strong statistical evidence that clearly demonstrates the increased danger of using two-point seatbelts on school buses. Surprised? Why ... we as a nation phased them out of automobiles, because they were increasing injuries and fatalities to our children.

I believe in a highly involved public. But I also believe in correct and factual information. But of course, I've dedicated my career to safe pupil transporation, as a driver, instructor, and administrator.

MEBusGuy@cs.com
Binghamton, NY

Subj:
Date: 5/15/00 10:40:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: DO'Connell@gph.com (O'Connell, Deborah A)
To: elubo@lubo.com ('elubo@lubo.com')

Hello:

I am just beginning some research on school bus safety. My
first experience will school bus safety has come early given my three year
old is enrolled in a public preschool because of speech and adhd. He
travels in a minivan or a older model station wagon with a school sign on
the roof. I have just became aware that they have been putting him in the
front of the older model station wagon in the morning in his booster seat.
The only reason why I believe is that he is picked up day care in the
morning and I'm not the person putting him in the car in the morning. I'm
thinking they must not have room and where he is being picked up at the
center and the other 3 and 4 year olds are being picked at their houses --
what mother would waive goodbye to their three year old in the front seat of
an old station wagon. I am wondering if there are any laws on children in
the front seat other than the one if there is an airbag. I don't think
there are any.

If anyone can help the above it will be appreciated.

Ed
Subj: School bus safety
Date: 5/20/00 6:13:57 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: bearlori@teleport.com (Greg & Lori Harris)
To: elubo@lubo.com

Hello,
My wife is a school bus driver in a district where they belong to a union and are required to have a cdl plus a state certifacation. As we have the tendancy to dole out contracts to the lowest bidder i.e. Laidlaw and Ryder, maybe we get some of what we pay for. I would like to point out one more issue that some people might overlook when they call in on a bus driver. Because of budget cuts my wife drives a bus with up to 71 students on board at one time. Not only is she responsible for safe passage of those
students first and foremost but when she returns in the morning here is a barrage of Jimmy did this and Suzy did that complaints from parents. Personally 6 kids in a minivan is plenty for myself and a lot of other people to handle. Certainly unsafe driving should be reported but the types of complaints that come in like "I saw a driver scuff a curb going around the corner" are ridiculous and a bother that hinders a system rather than helping. Addressing the name and number on the school bus seems unneccessary
to me in our area. There is a bus number on the bus with the district it belongs to which provides identification enough I would think. I have seen Laidlaw and Ryder busses without that I.D. though. Remember what you are paying for, "the low bidder". When you pick a vehicle for the safety of your family do you buy the cheapest model available or do you get what you need at the best price you can? Feel free to reply.

Greg & Lori Harris

Subj: Great job
Date: 5/23/00 9:51:04 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: robertcirillo@hotmail.com (Robert Cirillo)
To: elubo@lubo.com

Dear Ed,

I think your web site is excellent. I still can't understand why the PTA and the local school districts don't support your cause. It only makes sense that we would want school buses to have a 1 800 number "with how's my driving." I think you are doing a great job. After all, children are the most precious cargo of all.

Bob Cirillo

Love,
Bob, Judy, Amanda & Nicole