Pennsylvania School Bus Driver’s Manual
PennsylvaniaSchool Bus Driver’s ManualPUB 117 (3-17)www.dmv.pa.gov
FOREWORDThe Highway Safety Program of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, under the U.S. Departmentof Transportation’s Federal Standard 17, requires each state to develop plans to reduce, as much as possible,the danger of death or injury to school children while being transported to and from school. This manual and theassociated training course are Pennsylvania’s response to this standard. This manual is intended as a meansfor certified instructors to deliver training courses effectively and uniformly to school bus drivers throughoutPennsylvania.The course contained in this manual emphasizes fundamental concepts of school bus operation for the newdriver and recertification (experienced) levels. This manual provides a basic foundation for new instructors, butalso provides sufficient flexibility for enhancement and adaptation by the more knowledgeable and experiencedinstructors.Organizations or individuals interested in pupil transportation and safety may freely use the contents of thismanual in whole or in part, provided the material used is properly cited.THIS PUBLICATION IS NOT FOR SALE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSThe revision of this manual benefited from the help of many individuals. PennDOT’s Bureau of DriverLicensing staff Scott Shenk, Chris Miller, and Laura Krol directed the project’s technical aspects and served aslead reviewers. Additional support at PennDOT was provided by Troy Roadcap in the Bureau of DriverLicensing and Jacquie Turk in the Bureau of Highway Safety and Traffic Engineering. Rebecca Lorah andMatthew Hedge of PennDOT’s Bureau of Planning and Research managed the contractual aspects of theproject, and kept the project on schedule and on budget.The project was completed by Pennoni Associates in conjunction with Rod Sams Consulting and Vance andRenz, LLC. Mark Hood P.E., Steve Thompson, and Rod Sams served as primary authors and were supportedby Larry Bankert P.E. and Rosalind Murray. Robert Vance Ph.D. and Michael Renz led the crash data analysisefforts.The Task Force, listed below, was responsible for the many changes in content and thereorganization of the material in this latest revision of the Pennsylvania School Bus Driver’s Manual.Burt BlackburnDirector of TransportationRadnor Township School DistrictRadnor, Pa.David LutzDirector of TransportationCoalico School DistrictDenver, Pa.Maggie BroermanDirector of Safety and Training, Central RegionStudent Transportation of America, Inc.Carnegie, Pa.Selina PittengerExecutive DirectorPennsylvania School Bus Association (PSBA)Camp Hill, Pa.George “Rick” ComerSafety and Training ManagerCustomer Service Center ManagerDurham School ServicesYork, Pa.Craig PolesCoordinator of Driver Training and CertificationSchool District of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, Pa.Scott DowneyTransportation CoordinatorLower Dauphin School DistrictHummelstown, Pa.Jane GerholdOperations ManagerRohrer Bus ServiceDuncannon, Pa.Wayne JohnstonDirector of TransportationSchool District of Springfield TownshipOreland, Pa.Pennsylvania School Bus Driver’s Manual PUB 117Dave SchlotterDirector of Safety and OperationsBrightbill Transportation, Inc.Lebanon, Pa.Gail WolfelSupervisor of Transportation ServicesUnionville-Chadds Ford School DistrictKennett Square, Pa.David YarianDirector of TransportationDerry Township School DistrictHershey, Pa.i
Special thanks go to the following individuals for their outside review and comment on specific units or inputinto various legal or enforcement issues:Barbara Schaefer, Ph.D., College of Education, Pennsylvania State University (Units B and D)Shirley Woika, Ph.D., College of Education, Pennsylvania State University (Unit D)Kristie Kaufman, M.D., Center Medical and Surgical Associates – Pediatrics (Unit I)Brian Newcomb, M.D., Mt. Nittany Medical Center – Emergency Medicine (Unit I)Edward Miller, Lower Moreland Police Department, Montgomery CountyJohn Collins, Upper Merion Police Department, Montgomery CountyKathy Strotmeyer, Pennsylvania Chapter, American Academy of PediatricsiiPennsylvania School Bus Driver’s Manual PUB 117
TABLE OF CONTENTSUNIT ATHE SCHOOL BUS DRIVER: ROLE, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND REQUIREMENTSINTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-2YOUR ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-3WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO BECOME A SCHOOL BUSDRIVER IN PENNSYLVANIA?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-7UNIT BSTUDENT MANAGEMENT AND DISCIPLINEINTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-2SCHOOL BUS DRIVER RESPONSIBILITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-2STUDENT RESPONSIBILTIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-4DRIVER-STUDENT INTERACTIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-5CHARACTERISTICS OF STUDENT BEHAVIOR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-9GUIDELINES FOR CONTROLLING STUDENT BEHAVIOR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-11ASSERTIVE DISCIPLINE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-13GANG AWARENESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-15BULLYING AND HARASSMENT ON THE SCHOOL BUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-16UNIT CSTUDENT LOADING AND UNLOADINGINTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-2THE LOADING/UNLOADING AREA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-3LOADING PROCEDURES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-4UNLOADING PROCEDURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-6UNIQUE DANGERS OF LOADING AND UNLOADING ZONES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-8ENFORCING THE SCHOOL BUS STOPPING LAW. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-8UNIT DTRANSPORTATION OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITESINTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-2DRIVER RESPONSIBILITY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-3CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-3GUIDELINES FOR MANAGING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-4TYPES OF DISABILITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-6TRANSPORTING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-13UNIT EPREVENTIVE MAINTENANCEINTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-2PRE-TRIP INSPECTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-2PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE WHILE ON THE ROAD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-17POST-TRIP PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-22Pennsylvania School Bus Driver’s Manual PUB 117iii
UNIT FSAFE DRIVINGINTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F-3THE DRIVING TASK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F-5DRIVER CONDITIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F-7VEHICLE CONDITIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F-17ENVIRONMENTAL AND ROADWAY CONDITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F-17CONTROLLING SPEED. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F-30STOPPING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F-31UNIT GFUNDAMENTALS OF DRIVING A SCHOOL BUSINTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G-2PREPARING TO DRIVE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G-2KNOW YOUR ROUTE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G-4FIELD TRIP / ATHLETIC TRIP CONCERNS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G-5STARTING AND OPERATING A DIESEL VEHICLE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G-6STEERING AND TURNING YOUR BUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G-7BACKING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G-10MAKING A TURN-AROUND. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G-12STOPPING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G-13CHECKING OVERHEAD CLEARANCE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G-15APPROACHING RAILROAD CROSSINGS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G-16UNIT HCRASH AND EMERGENCY PROCEDURESINTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H-3EMERGENCY DRIVING TECHNIQUES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H-3EMERGENCY PROCEDURES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .H-10EVACUATING THE BUS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H-14EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H-19SCHOOL BUS SECURITY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H-22HOSTAGE AWARENESS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H-24UNIT ISTUDENT EMERGENCIESINTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-2MEDICAL LIABILITY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-3FIRST AID PROCEDURES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-4REPORT ALL INCIDENTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-13FIRST AID EQUIPMENT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-14ivPennsylvania School Bus Driver’s Manual PUB 117
UNIT A - The School Bus Driver: Role Responsibilities and RequirementsUNIT A - THE SCHOOL BUS DRIVER:ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES AND REQUIREMENTSINTRODUCTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-2YOUR ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Your Role as a Driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Attitude. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .You Are Important. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .You Are Responsible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .You Are a Member of the Safety Team. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Your Responsibilities as a Driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Your Driving Technique. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Your Passengers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Public Relations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Appropriate Dress. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Your Supervisor and Fellow Employees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .The Transportation Director/Your Supervisor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-3A-3A-3A-3A-3A-3A-4A-4A-4A-5A-5A-6A-6WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO BECOME A SCHOOL BUS DRIVER IN PENNSYLVANIA?. . . . . . . . . . . . . A-7Initial Requirements - First Step. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-7Knowledge Test Authorization and School Bus Learner’s Permit - Second Step. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-8Training and Skills Testing Requirements - Third Step. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-8The School Bus Driver Training Course. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-8Health and Safety Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-10Drug and Alcohol Testing for School Bus Drivers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-11Positive Test or Refusing to Take a Test. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-11Driver Recertification. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-12Completion of Report Form. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-13Annual Physical Examination. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-13Change of Information on License . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-13Documents Carried While Operating a School Bus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-14Comprehensive Resource . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-14Pennsylvania School Bus Driver’s Manual PUB 117A-1
UNIT A - The School Bus Driver: Role Responsibilities and RequirementsUNIT A - THE SCHOOL BUS DRIVER:ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES AND REQUIREMENTSINTRODUCTIONTransporting students to and from school is a necessary part of a sound education program. For a safe,efficient, and economical transportation program, competent school bus drivers and standard bus operation arenecessary. At present, there are approximately 30,000 school buses in operation within the Commonwealth ofPennsylvania and about 40,000 licensed school bus drivers. For detailed Pennsylvania school bus statistics,visit the Driver and Vehicle Statistics link under the News, Facts and Stats Information Center of PennDOT’sDriver and Vehicle Services website, www.dmv.pa.govBefore you get behind the wheel of a school bus, you need to understand your role as a bus driver and yourresponsibilities to your passengers, your school system, your community and your fellow workers. These topicsare covered in the first part of this Unit. The second part describes the requirements for certified school busdrivers in Pennsylvania.If you are a new school bus driver in PA, you will receive a minimum of 14 hours of classroom training andsix hours of one-on-one in-bus instruction. If you are recertifying to maintain your license, you will receive aminimum of seven hours of classroom training and three hours of one-on-one in-bus instruction.If you are not given the minimum number of training hours, do not sign the Training Report Form(DL-714). You may contact PennDOT’s Special Driver Programs Unit at (717) 787-6453 orra-pdschoolbushelp@state.pa.us, if you have any concerns associated with your school bus drivertraining.Your employer may also provide you with additional training on the policies and procedures of the school districtin which you will be working. Some of what you learn in this training might need to be adjusted to comply withyour company’s policies. For instance, in classroom
the danger of death or injury to school children while being transported to and from school. This manual and the associated training course are Pennsylvania’s response to this standard. This manual is intended as a means for certified instructors to deliver training courses effectively and uniformly to school bus drivers throughout Pennsylvania.
driver who does not hold a valid Oklahoma School Bus Driver Certificate issued by the State Board of Education, authorizing said bus driver to operate a school bus in Oklahoma.” (70 O.S. § 9-118) It is important for Oklahoma school bus drivers to remember they
bus route bus stop pickup time bus route (elos) bus stop (elos) pickup time (elos) 419450 w-28a w soffel ave@n 36th ave 8:12 am w-27ear w soffel ave@n 36th ave 7:06 am 419452 w-26a w le moyne ave@n 38th ave 8:21 am w-27ear w le moyne ave@n 38th ave 6:59 am 420001 w-52a butterfield rd@high
The Model School Bus Driver Training Program is a resource manual to aid in the training of Minnesota school bus drivers/supervisors. It is not meant to be a teaching tool by itself, nor is it designed to be a textbook. This manual provides information for every Minnesota school bus driver/supervisor.
school bus driver qualifications and training. The Nevada School Bus Driver Training Manual is the State Board of Education approved training document for all school bus drivers in Nevada. The manual was approved during the October 8, 2020
Figure 4.7 Data flowchart for real time bus position and timetable 50 Display Figure 4.8 Data flowchart for bus driver login to bus positioning 51 module Figure 5.1 Real time bus positions mapping in UTAR campus map 52 Figure 5.2 Table of real time bus arrival time 53 Figure 5.3 Bus status update in driver module 54
1. A school bus driver shall have a valid Class A, B or C Commercial Driver’s License with a “P” and “S” endorsement. 2. A school bus driver shall have a valid school bus driver’s certificate issued by an instru
handbook can be downloaded from the N.H.S.T.A website. Access . It is said, “All school bus drivers are judged by the actions of even ‘one’”. As a New Hampshire school bus driver you represent not only . yourself, but the State, the School District, the parents and general public. When you accepted a School Bus Driver certificate you also
3 athiyamaan college 7.40am 4 bathalapalli bus stop 7.45am 5 ashley garden 7.55am 6 al school 8.15am bus no.23 s.no bus stop time * 1 barathidasan nagar ground 7.30am 2 railway station 7.35am 3 rc church 7.40am 4 shanthi nagar / ragavendra temple 7.45am 5 gh roundana 7.50am 6 old astc hudco 7.53am 7 thangam nursing home 7.55am
