Adoption Date: 7/19/1994, Revised: 7/29/1997; 3/21/00; 6/20/00, 12/20/11
5000 - NON-INSTRUCTIONAL/BUSINESS OPERATIONS
TRANSPORTATION
5750 SCHOOL BUS SAFETY PROGRAM
The
safe transportation of students to and from school is of primary
concern in the administration of the school bus program. All state laws
and regulations pertaining to the safe use of school buses shall be
observed by drivers, students and school personnel.
To assure the
safety and security of students boarding or exiting school buses on
school property, it shall be unlawful for a driver of a vehicle to pass a
stopped school bus when the red bus signal is in operation.
Use of Cell Phones and Portable Electronic Devices Prohibited
Use
of portable electronic devices by a school bus driver at times the
vehicle is in operation on the roadway poses a potential safety risk.
All school bus drivers are prohibited from using portable electronic
devices while the bus is in operation and students are on the bus.
Personal
cell phones are to be placed in the "off" position when in the
possession of the school bus driver while the bus is in operation. Cell
phones may be used in case of emergency.
The following terms are defined as:
- a)
"Portable electronic device" shall mean any mobile telephone (hand held
or "hands free"), personal digital assistant (PDA), portable device
with mobile data access, laptop computer, pager, broadband personal
communication device, two-way messaging device, electronic game, or
portable computing device.
- b) "Using" shall mean holding a
portable electronic device while viewing, taking or transmitting images,
playing games, or composing, sending, reading, viewing, accessing,
browsing, transmitting, saving or retrieving e-mail, text messages, or
other electronic data.
- c) "In operation" shall mean that the bus engine is running, whether the bus is in motion or not.
The
Transportation Supervisor, in cooperation with the principals, has the
responsibility of developing and publishing safety rules to be followed
by drivers and passengers, including rules of student conduct. In order
to ensure maximum safety to those riding school buses, it is necessary
that students and drivers cooperate in this effort. There is no
substitute for training to develop safe habits in pedestrian and
vehicular traffic.
All buses and other vehicles owned and operated
by the School District will have frequent safety inspections, and will
be serviced regularly. The head mechanic will maintain a comprehensive
record of all maintenance performed on each vehicle.
Every bus
driver is required to report promptly any school bus accident involving
death, injury, or property damage. All accidents, regardless of damage
involved, must be reported at once to the head mechanic.
Seat Belt Use
The
Brockport Central School District believes that seat belts on school
buses provide an important safety benefit to student passengers.
Students will receive school bus seat belt use training during school
bus safety drills.
All those riding buses equipped with seat
belts, including but not limited to bus drivers, students, teachers, and
chaperones, shall wear their seat belts at all times except when
boarding or exiting the bus. School bus monitors shall also wear seat
belts when they do not need to be out of their seats for student
management. At no time shall seat belts be released before the bus has
come to a complete stop. Failure to comply with this seat belt use
policy shall result in student or employee disciplinary action.
Volunteers riding buses who do not comply will lose their privileges of
riding District vehicles.
Policy References:
Education Law Section 3623
8 New York Code of Rules and Regulations (NYCRR)
Section 156.3
Vehicle and Traffic Law Sections 509-a(7),
509-1(1-b), and 1174
Policy Cross References:
» 6153 - DRUG AND ALCOHOL TESTING FOR SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS AND SAFETY-SENSITIVE EMPLOYEES
» 8212 - FIRE DRILLS, BOMB THREATS AND BUS EMERGENCY DRILLS