Responding to School Bus Accidents

IASBO Transportation PDC

Presenters• MODERATOR

– Dr. Brian Murphy• Director of Transportation/Technology • Lincoln Way High School District 210

• PRESENTORS:

– Mr. Lawrence Martinez• Director of Transportation• Oswego CUSD 308

– Mr. Kenneth Surma• Assistant Principal/Transportation Services• Troy CCESD 30-C

– Mr. Richard Wilkey• Director of Transportation/Assist. Dir. Buildings & Grounds• Lincoln Way High School District 210

Biggest type of Mass transit in the United States10 Billion Student Trips each year

8.8 Billion to and from school1.2 billion activity trips

~500,000 school buses on road each day~ 24 Million Students Each year

Since 1990 - 407,000 Fatal Traffic Accidents in US

School Bus Accidents account for 1/3 of 1%~ 1,450 accidents

Not one student death in 2003

National Statistics –Bus Safety

Illinois Statistics

• Since 2005– Average of 2287 accidents/year– 21 Fatalities

• 0 – Bus Driver• 0 – Passenger• 11 – Other Vehicle Occupants• 2 – School Aged children• 8 – Other Pedestrians

Video Montage

• Most School Bus crashes are minor in nature, the school bus has an advantage due to the size and weight of the vehicle. Many more people are killed in other vehicles than school buses.

Legal References

• Illinois Motor Vehicle Code– 625 ILCS 5/11-406 through 416- 406 -Duty to Report an Accident. Section B specifically talks about School

buses- 407- Immediate Notice of Accident- 411 – Accident Report Forms

• FMCSR – Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations – (Post Accident Testing)

» 49 CFR 382.303

Pre-Accident• First Aid Kit• Fire Extinguisher• Emergency Warning Devices• Insurance Card• Proof of Safety Check• Name, Number and Phone Number of School District• Driver’s License• List of Students on the Bus• Seating Charts

Accident Procedures

• No Accident is the same and what will be covered in the documentation on the slides to follow is just a guideline and is subject to change depending on the situation.

• Oswego Procedures• Troy Procedures

Anatomy of a Bus Accident

Policies and procedures in the event of a school bus accident.

Responsibilities of:

The Supervisor

The Dispatcher

The Driver

The scenarioNovember 20, 2009

8:17 am

Bus #26

Two-Way radio call: “Bus 26 to base - - I’ve been in an accident, and was rear-ended by another car.”

Dispatch: “Do you have students on board?”

Driver: “Yes”

Dispatch: “What is your location?”

Driver: “I am on Black Road, just east of Route 59 at the stop light by the Home Depot.”

Dispatch: “Are there any injuries?”

Driver: “I’m not sure; I’m checking. The car that hit me looks pretty bad.”

Dispatch: “We are dispatching 9-1-1.”

The scenarioNovember 20, 2009

8:17 am

Bus #26

I, Supervisor, immediately grab my two-way radio and leave for the scene.

Supervisor: “Supervisor to all buses: This is a Code Pink. I repeat, this is a Code Pink.”

What is a Code Pink?

• All bus drivers are to maintain radio silence unless they are having an emergency. This includes suggestions on providing assistance.

• All vehicles are to proceed with the normal activities.

• All bus drivers and monitors are to prepare for additional duties and responsibilities.

The scenarioNovember 20, 2009

8:17 am

Bus #26

What am I getting myself into?

Supervisor: “Ken to Bus #26. Give me an assessment of injuries.”

Driver: (screaming and crying in the background) “Everyone is pretty shaken, and I have one boy with a good gash on the back of his head.”

Supervisor: “10-4. I’m just about there.”

At the SceneThe bus

The car

At the SceneAssess the situation:

Primary:

Emergency personnel present ??

Condition of driver ??

Condition of students ??

Condition/safety of bus ??

Do I need additional resources ??

Secondary:

Condition of driver of other vehicle ??

At the SceneNo emergency personnel present

Checked the bus and determined it was safe. Safer to leave children on the bus until emergency personnel arrive.

Assessed the driver and determined no injuries.

Assessed the children and found one injury.

Contacted dispatch to:

1. Get two buses to the scene and “stage” in Home Depot parking lot.

2. Have the mechanic come to the scene to check the condition of the bus.

3. Have another driver come with the mechanic to the scene to drive Bus #26 back to base.

4. Call the school to inform principal of situation and to have school contact parents.

Assisted with first aid to injured child.

At the SceneEmergency personnel arrive:

Brief them of the situation.

They handle emergency care for the child and transport to hospital.

Have additional buses park by bus #26 to begin evacuation procedures.

Mechanic stated that bus is drivable, so additional driver transported bus to base.

Driver involved in accident is sent for post-accident drug/alcohol test and medical evaluation.

Paperwork, paperwork, paperwork.

ISBE 50-26

Illinois Motorist Report

Insurance Claim Packet

Supervisor’s Report

ResponsibilitiesThe Supervisor

The lead person until such time that emergency personnel take over some responsibilities.

Be able to assess as much as possible in a short period of time.

Must make quick and decisive decisions.

Not there to make friends; you’re there to handle a crisis.

Children are #1.

The Driver(s)

Stay as calm as possible.

Give short and to-the-point answers to questions.

Assess and assist the children.

Stay away until summoned.

ResponsibilitiesThe Dispatcher

Coordinating the effort.

Prepare to ask questions. Get the most information with the least amount of questions.

Ready to assist.

Don’t question why.

Post Accident ProceduresGetting the appropriate Documentation

•Illinois Motorist Report (Copy)•Citation (Copy)•Driver Accident/Incident Report•Accident/Incident Investigation Report•Bus Passenger Position Chart•Bus ID/Insurance Card•Accident Pictures

Sending Appropriate Documentation to Appropriate Agencies•Illinois Motorist Report (State of Illinois)•Insurance Company•Driver, Personnel File, Supervisor

When to Test a DriverAccidents that follow criteria outlined in Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (49 CFR 382.303)

Criteria to help determine when to test a driver•Human Fatality

•Citation Issued – YES or NO – Driver must be tested•Bodily Injury requiring medical attention and Traffic citation is issued to bus driver

•Citation Issued = Yes = Driver Tested•Citation Issued = NO = Driver Does not need to be tested

•If either vehicle is towed •Towed = yes = Driver Tested•Towed = no = Driver does not need to be tested

What to Report to StateCompleted Illinois Motorist Report – Within 10 Days of accidentWhen reporting by Phone (217) 782-7674

•Date, time and Location of Accident•Driver’s name and license number•Other driver’s license and name•Type of Bus involved•Number of Children Involved•Description of Accident

What to send to the State•A Completed Illinois Motorist Report.

Sample Forms•Bus Accident Passenger Seating Chart•Injured Passenger List•School District Accident Form•Driver Accident Report

Bus Accident Passenger Seating Chart

Bus # _________ Driver:_____________________________ Date:_________

BUS DRIVER

Seat A Seat B Seat C Aisle Seat D Seat E Seat F

     Row 1

     

     Row 2

     

     Row 3

     

     Row 4

     

     Row 5

     

     Row 6

     

     Row 7

     

     Row 8

     

     Row 9

     

     Row 10

     

     Row 11

     

     Row 12

     

     Row 13

     

Signed: _______________________

Injured Passenger List

Bus #:______________

Driver:______________________

Date:___________

Name of Injured Seat Type of Injury Transported to

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       Signed: _________________

School District Accident Form

Date:________ Time:_________ Route:_______

Driver:____________________ Bus#:_________

Notified Entity Time Who Called Whom did you speak with?

Local Police      Insurance Company      

School District Office      

School Building Administration      If another bus was sent to

scene, what bus number?      

Office Personnel on Scene      

Questions and Discussion