School is back in

How about explaining to us all......just what part of BD's post was dumb.....I went back and re-read it a couple of times , just to give you the benfit of the doubt too. I'm not trying to be factious , just curious as to how you think any of that post is dumb. Thanks for your response ahead of time.....

 

Alternate universe? You mean somewhere in Appalachia maybe?

Nothing BD posted was "dumb", inaccurate, without merit, or gibberish! Personally knowing BD, and his background, leaves me ample room to read and respect his thoughts and wisdom in most any aspect of transportation. A proven track record in trucking, in law enforcement, a family man, and a man who doesn't post without first taking time to think through and re-think what he says or intends to say!

Do you have any experience driving a school bus? Let me guess, the answer is probably NO. One year (or less) experience in trucking.....you need to get a little more experience before calling out most anyone on this forum. And as a little piece of advice....both with your quick reaction to words and maybe your equally quick process when driving....learn to slow down and take the time to think and re-think most any situation before embarking on your unplanned mission!

 

Its the law, The flashers are to be on while loading/unloading of students.

 

That's not the law in NM because ive seen buses pick up students in certain places without lights.

 

Without the lights on, were they maybe not on the roadway but in a parking lot off the street?

 

Our districts policy is for our busses to pull to the right turn on the yellow flashers wait for traffic to clear, then turn on the <<Orange>> RED overhead, and do not pass signs.

I realize different districts have there own things they have added to the do not pass law.

Other things is our bus drivers use the right lane to stop in before R/R.

But still watch for them, dont presume that they will stop.

I was in Compton, CA and saw a bus go over a R/R , problem was a side street had a truck at a stop sign that expected the bus to stop and made a left turn across the buses path. CHP ruled it to be the bus drivers fault, but IMHO both driver shared the blame.

You as a professional driver have to expect the unexpected and be ready to react with the appropriate defensive action. Avoidable is entirely different than at fault.

Thanks for the reminder, we all can put this information to good use.

 

It was on a highway with turn outs. To me it's unreasonable to block traffic for up to ten minutes to pick up one child who for them to run in the street would be a miracle.

 

Refer to PJ's last post....CA is actually very strict on school bus procedure, and allowing following traffic to clear before engaging in loading/unloading....especially where space is available for the bus to allow traffic to continue.

 

If they of public roads its different, but they are on the street the Overheads must be on, heres your sign:

NM 6.41.4.9 SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION RESPONSIBILITIES
A. General Requirements
(3) If loading or unloading on the street, the bus shall be stopped parallel to the curb bumper to bumper or as close as possible to avoid pupils from going between the buses and in a single file on the side of the street nearest the school. Alternating flashers shall not be activated unless the bus is stopped on the traveled portion of the roadway.
(4) The school bus engine must be off and the park brake activated while students are loading/unloading from school buses. Should the driver be required to leave the driver's seat, the keys shall be removed from the ignition switch.

 

Unfortunately here in Utah, or at least in Washington and Iron Counties in Utah, it is obvious that school bus drivers are not regulated very well by their school districts. I don't know what kind of a driver training program they have in these two counties, but whatever it is, leaves a whole lot to be desired.