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National Transportation Safety Board calls for First-Ever Ban Nationwide Ban on PEDs while Driving

On Tuesday, December 13, 2011 the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) held a meeting to discuss the Highway Accident Report for the Multi-Vehicle Collision in Gary Summit, Missouri that occurred on August 5, 2010. This meeting led to a recommendation that called for a nationwide ban on driver use of personal electronic devices (PEDs) while operating a motor vehicle.

The incident involved a pickup truck that collided into the back of a truck tractor that had slowed due to traffic in a work zone. The pickup truck was then struck from behind by a school bus. That same school bus was hit from behind by another school bus that had been following closely behind. The accident culminated in two fatalities and 38 injuries, leaving NTSB to consider the causes behind this accident in order to prevent such devastating loses from happening in the future.

NSTA staff attended the meeting where a summary, probable cause, and a conclusion of the Gary Summit accident were presented. As a result of these findings NTSB made 13 new recommendations; one of which calls for a ban on the use of PEDs while operating a motor vehicle. NTSB came out with a press release on the ban this afternoon which can be found here.

Three of the 13 new recommendations were addressed to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and directly affect the school bus industry:

1.   Modify Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 217 to require that all emergency exits on school buses be easily opened and remain open during an emergency evacuation. (H-11-XX)

2.   Modify Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 217 or the corresponding laboratory test procedure to eliminate the potential for objects such as latch plates to protrude into the emergency exit window opening space even when that protrusion still allows the exit window to meet the opening size requirements. (H-11-XX)

3.    To cover the interim period until Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 217 is modified as specified in Safety Recommendations 1 and 2 above, provide the states with guidance on how to minimize potential evacuation delays that could be caused by protruding latch mechanisms on emergency exit windows and by exit windows that require additional manual assistance to remain open during egress. (H-11-XX)

The Board Meeting Summary, including findings and full recommendation listings may be found here.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announces denial of petition to require lap/shoulder belts in large school buses

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced on Thursday, August 25 a denial of petition for rulemaking. The petition, to mandate the installation of three-point seatbelts for all seating positions on all school buses, was denied due to three main components: NHTSA has not found a safety problem supporting a Federal requirement for lap/shoulder belts on large school buses; the cost and consequences of ordering and equipping seat belts on large buses would exceed the benefit; and the decision of mandating seat-belt installation needs to be handled under the jurisdiction of State and local governing bodies. The petitioners include the Center for Auto Safety along with 21 others.

In regard to the safety aspect of seat belts on a school bus, various studies have shown that it is the structure of bus seats, not the use of seat belts that provide children more security in times of a school bus collision (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Report to Congress—School Bus Safety: Crashworthiness Research, April 2002). In this report NHSTA concluded that “compartmentalization” was the safety measure that effectively lowered injuries. “Compartmentalization”, as defined by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 222, is a protective envelope formed of strong, closely spaced seats that have energy absorbing seat backs so that passengers are better cushioned and contained in the event of a school bus crash. The taller the bus seats, the more protected pupils are on school buses. NHTSA took notice of such findings and undertook measures to raise minimum seat back height on school bus passenger seats in 2010 (Regulation Identifier Number 2127-AK49). This rule also required small buses to have lap/shoulder belts at each passenger seating position. Because of the deceleration experienced by small school buses, there is necessity in creating an exception for such motor vehicles.

NHTSA has also been sensitive to the fact that mandatory seat belt installation could burden struggling public school system budgets. A study conducted by the State of Alabama in 2010 concluded that, in their state, the estimated net benefit of implementing seat belts on Alabama school buses was found to be -104 million to -125 million dollars (“Cost Effectiveness of Lap/Shoulder Seat Belts on Large Alabama School Buses” Sept. 30, 2010). On October 21, 2008, the agency issued a final rule, 73 FR, upgrading the passenger protection requirements for school buses. During this proceeding it was found that the estimated incremental cost of installing lap/shoulder belts in large school buses is $5,485-$7,346. This does not account for other factors post-installation like higher fuel costs due to added bus weight. This financial concern has the potential for school bus cutbacks, forcing children to seek alternative, less safe modes of transportation to get to and from school. One example could be riding with an inexperienced driver, particularly a teenage driver, who is far more prone to motor vehicle accidents. According to the Department of Transportation, the school bus occupant fatality rate is six times lower than the rates for passenger cars (DOT/NHTSA “2008 Traffic Safety Facts”).

The agency also affirmed in the October 2008 Final Rule that State and local jurisdictions should continue to have the choice of whether to require seat belts on their local large school buses. NHTSA stated that States and local school districts are better able to analyze school transportation in particular to them and identify approaches to best manage and reduce those safety risks. (Final Rule, 73FR at 62745). This assessment was reinforced by the State of Alabama’s study that has already concluded the cost benefit analysis of not having seat belts in school buses in their state greatly outweighs requiring seat belts in their state.

NSTA will continue to keep our members updated with the latest developments in school bus safety regulations.

US Department of Transportation Secretary, Ray LaHood, visits with delegates in Baltimore

Secretary LaHood stopped by the Annual Meeting and Convention on July 19 , 2011 to speak with NSTA members about the importance of getting more students on yellow buses. You can read the full text of the Secretary’s speech here.

The question and answer portion after Secretary LaHood’s speech was also very encouraging.  Both contractor and vendor members posed questions to the Secretary and his staff regarding important issues the school bus industry faces today.  From sleep apnea to incorporating fleets in emergency relief situations, we at NSTA have the ability to make a difference by working together with the Department of Transportation.  Secretary LaHood helped brainstorm ideas about how to further tackle our concerns and is extremely supportive of a successful partnership between both NSTA and his office.

Secretary LaHood talks more about the National School Transportation Association in his blog, Fast Lane.

Congressman Tim Scott delivers Keynote Speech

Congressman Tim Scott of South Carolina continued to show is support of the National School Transportation Association at our Annual Meeting and Convention on July 18, 2011.  Speaking about the importance of private sector jobs, Mr. Scott made it clear that he would speak on behalf of our members on Capitol Hill.

To learn more about Congressman Scott, please visit his website.



Head of Department of Transportation Impressed by ASBC's Love the Bus Event

On February 22nd, NSTA participated in the American School Bus Council (ASBC)'s Love the Bus event in Takoma Park, MD. Tremendously successful, the event drew participation from school children and Federal Government officials alike. The message: school buses are the safest way to get to school, so show your bus drivers appreciation in honor of Valentine's Day!

Ray Lahood, U.S. Secretary of Transportation, who attended and spoke at the event, said he especially enjoyed meeting school bus driver, Wellington Verona Abud, and speaking to the children who rode his bus, writing on his blog that, "...if you heard the affection [Mr. Wellington]'s young riders expressed for him, you would understand what an important role he plays, not just in keeping those riders safe, but in getting their school day off to a promising start." You can read Mr. LaHood's entire post, complete with pictures and video, by clicking here.

Additionaly, Mongomery County Public Schools has created an excellent video of the event which can be viewed here.