2011 State of the State: Safety is Still Job One! Presented to 21 st Lake Yale Leadership Conference...

2011 State of the State:2011 State of the State:Safety is Still Job One!Safety is Still Job One!

Presented to 21Presented to 21stst Lake Yale Lake YaleLeadership ConferenceLeadership Conference

March 29, 2011March 29, 2011Charlie Hood, Director, School TransportationCharlie Hood, Director, School Transportation

Florida Department of EducationFlorida Department of Education

2009 Legislation--2009 Legislation--PassedPassed

• SB 344- SB 344- Dori Slosberg and Katie Marchetti Dori Slosberg and Katie Marchetti Safety Belt Law-Safety Belt Law- Provided that not wearing a Provided that not wearing a seat belt in a motor vehicle is now a seat belt in a motor vehicle is now a primary primary enforcement actionenforcement action

• HB 481 and SB 1114- Increased penalty for HB 481 and SB 1114- Increased penalty for illegal passingillegal passing of bus by $65; funds go to of bus by $65; funds go to trauma centerstrauma centers


• SB 1676- Revised s.1006.21, FS, to require SB 1676- Revised s.1006.21, FS, to require that that contiguous districts have reciprocal contiguous districts have reciprocal agreementsagreements for school bus transportation for school bus transportation services, inspections, and screening services, inspections, and screening requirements for public schools, including requirements for public schools, including charter schoolscharter schools

2010 Legislation--2010 Legislation--FailedFailed

• HB 179, SB 316- To require children ages 4 HB 179, SB 316- To require children ages 4 through 7 be in through 7 be in booster seatsbooster seats in motor in motor vehicles (not including school buses) vehicles (not including school buses) Florida Florida is one of three states without this law.is one of three states without this law.

• Distracted Driving- Various bills that would Distracted Driving- Various bills that would have prohibited have prohibited texting and other formstexting and other forms of of distracted drivingdistracted driving

2010 Legislation--2010 Legislation--FailedFailed

• HB 599, SB 1574- Would have authorized HB 599, SB 1574- Would have authorized hazardous walking funding for middle and hazardous walking funding for middle and high schoolhigh school students; would have increased students; would have increased transportation funding eligibility for transportation funding eligibility for grades 6-grades 6-12 to three miles or more12 to three miles or more; would have ; would have allowed allowed exterior adsexterior ads on buses on buses

• SB 896- Would have required SB 896- Would have required training for bus training for bus drivers in recognition of diabetesdrivers in recognition of diabetes symptoms symptoms and responseand response


• Appropriations-Appropriations- Student Transportation was Student Transportation was included in overall FEFP again for 2010-11, included in overall FEFP again for 2010-11, set at $431M; set at $431M; reduced 12.7% since 2007-08reduced 12.7% since 2007-08

• HB 221- HB 221- Ronshay Dugans ActRonshay Dugans Act; created ; created Drowsy Driving Prevention WeekDrowsy Driving Prevention Week


HB 1073- Prohibits school personnel from HB 1073- Prohibits school personnel from manually physically restrainingmanually physically restraining students with students with disabilities except in emergencies; requires disabilities except in emergencies; requires district policies on whether bus drivers should district policies on whether bus drivers should be trained in manual physical restraint be trained in manual physical restraint techniquestechniques

2011 Legislation--Proposed2011 Legislation--Proposed

• Student Trans. Student Trans. AppropriationsAppropriations- Governor’s - Governor’s budget rec. for 2011-12 is budget rec. for 2011-12 is $427M$427M (-0.85%), (-0.85%), still within FEFP, renamed “Education still within FEFP, renamed “Education Choice Fund”Choice Fund”


• HBs 109 and 315; SBs 558 and 1124- All four bills HBs 109 and 315; SBs 558 and 1124- All four bills would would allowallow districts to sell districts to sell advertising space on the advertising space on the exterior of school busesexterior of school buses; local policies and ; local policies and safeguards required for size, placement, and safeguards required for size, placement, and appropriate content of ads; recent position papers appropriate content of ads; recent position papers from FAPT and NASDPTS on their websites from FAPT and NASDPTS on their websites ((www.FAPTFlorida.orgwww.FAPTFlorida.org and and www.NASDPTS.orgwww.NASDPTS.org))


• HB 11 and SB 238- To require that all children ages HB 11 and SB 238- To require that all children ages 4 through 7 use a federally approved 4 through 7 use a federally approved child safety child safety restraint seat or booster seatrestraint seat or booster seat in a motor vehicle in a motor vehicle (school buses exempted)(school buses exempted)

• HB 1331 and SB 1822- Would revise Opportunity HB 1331 and SB 1822- Would revise Opportunity Scholarship law to allow expansion of parents’ Scholarship law to allow expansion of parents’ option to choose higher performing schools, option to choose higher performing schools, with with transportationtransportation,, within the district within the district


• SB 1546- Would revise SB 1546- Would revise charter schoolscharter schools law to omit law to omit requirement that they provide transportation; requirement that they provide transportation; requires district to provide transportation upon requires district to provide transportation upon requestrequest; students beyond 4 miles not required to be ; students beyond 4 miles not required to be transportedtransported

• HB 1461 and SB 2036- Would authorize use by HB 1461 and SB 2036- Would authorize use by school districts of “school bus traffic infraction school districts of “school bus traffic infraction detectors” to allow detectors” to allow photo enforcement of stop lawphoto enforcement of stop law; ; contains related provisionscontains related provisions


• HB 833- HB 833- Prohibits operators from using a Prohibits operators from using a hand-held cell phonehand-held cell phone or electronic or electronic communications device while operating communications device while operating school busschool bus

• SB 724- Prohibits use of SB 724- Prohibits use of cell phone while cell phone while driving in a school zonedriving in a school zone

District Idling Policy Required:District Idling Policy Required:

• Rule 6A-3.0171, FAC, requires that districts Rule 6A-3.0171, FAC, requires that districts adopt adopt local idling policieslocal idling policies (effective (effective November 25, 2006)November 25, 2006)

• Districts should ensure local policies are Districts should ensure local policies are consistent with (and no less stringent than) consistent with (and no less stringent than) the state DEP idling rulethe state DEP idling rule

• NASDPTS working on NASDPTS working on model national idling model national idling reduction programreduction program

Other Required Local Policies Other Required Local Policies (Chapter 6A-3, FAC):(Chapter 6A-3, FAC):

• To To prohibit cell phone useprohibit cell phone use by drivers while by drivers while actively operating the busactively operating the bus

• Safe driver plansSafe driver plans, including which infractions , including which infractions disqualify a driverdisqualify a driver

• Annual Annual safety instructions/notice for parentssafety instructions/notice for parents and studentsand students

Legislation, Statutes, and RulesLegislation, Statutes, and Rules

• www.leg.state.fl.uswww.leg.state.fl.us (Florida legislative bills (Florida legislative bills and statutes)and statutes)

• www.flrules.orgwww.flrules.org (Florida rules and statutes, (Florida rules and statutes, especially Chapter 6A-3, FAC, and Sections especially Chapter 6A-3, FAC, and Sections 1006.21 to 1006.27, and 1012.45, F.S.)1006.21 to 1006.27, and 1012.45, F.S.)

• www.regulations.govwww.regulations.gov (federal rulemaking (federal rulemaking—dockets and public comments)—dockets and public comments)

Fatalities in 2009-10 (Fatalities in 2009-10 (requiring requiring school bus crash report to FDOEschool bus crash report to FDOE):):

• Brevard, 9/1/09- Pickup truck driver crossed Brevard, 9/1/09- Pickup truck driver crossed into path of bus, head-on; died 9/16/09into path of bus, head-on; died 9/16/09

• Escambia, 9/14/09- Teen driver ran stop sign Escambia, 9/14/09- Teen driver ran stop sign and was hit by bus; died next dayand was hit by bus; died next day

• Clay, 9/29/09- Teen driver and adult rear-Clay, 9/29/09- Teen driver and adult rear-ended bus stopped to turn left; both diedended bus stopped to turn left; both died

• Palm Beach, 10/5/09- Adult male pedestrian Palm Beach, 10/5/09- Adult male pedestrian allegedly jaywalking and died when hit by busallegedly jaywalking and died when hit by bus


• Highlands, 10/29/09- Motorcyclist crashed Highlands, 10/29/09- Motorcyclist crashed into bus in foggy weather and diedinto bus in foggy weather and died

• Lee, 11/23/09- Motorist killed in early Lee, 11/23/09- Motorist killed in early morning crash into school busmorning crash into school bus

• Lee, 12/3/09- Adult driver and passenger of Lee, 12/3/09- Adult driver and passenger of Honda Civic killed when the car veered into Honda Civic killed when the car veered into the path of a busthe path of a bus


• Gadsden, 3/8/10- High school age female bus Gadsden, 3/8/10- High school age female bus passenger killed when bus driver lost control passenger killed when bus driver lost control and ran off roadand ran off road

• Miami-Dade, 3/17/10- Car driver rear-ended Miami-Dade, 3/17/10- Car driver rear-ended bus and was killedbus and was killed

• Polk, 4/22/10- 74 year old car driver killed in Polk, 4/22/10- 74 year old car driver killed in impact with Lake Wales charter school busimpact with Lake Wales charter school bus

• Miami-Dade, 6/3/10- Motorcyclist hit left Miami-Dade, 6/3/10- Motorcyclist hit left front of bus and was killedfront of bus and was killed

Fatalities 2009-10 (other):Fatalities 2009-10 (other):

• Bay, 10/28/09- Brother and sister hit by car while Bay, 10/28/09- Brother and sister hit by car while crossing to get to bus stop before bus arrived; the crossing to get to bus stop before bus arrived; the six-year old was killedsix-year old was killed

• Pinellas, 12/18/09- Teen girl killed by motorist Pinellas, 12/18/09- Teen girl killed by motorist while crossing busy intersection against light to while crossing busy intersection against light to get to nearby stopped school busget to nearby stopped school bus

• Polk, 12/22/09- Teen student struck and killed by Polk, 12/22/09- Teen student struck and killed by teen driver while walking home from schoolteen driver while walking home from school

Fatalities 2009-10 (other):Fatalities 2009-10 (other):

• Leon, 3/23/10- Pedestrian student hit by car Leon, 3/23/10- Pedestrian student hit by car while walking to a public transit stopwhile walking to a public transit stop

• Marion, 5/28/10- Lake Weir Middle School Marion, 5/28/10- Lake Weir Middle School Student killed by truck while waiting at her Student killed by truck while waiting at her school bus stopschool bus stop

• Volusia, 6/1/10- 12 year old middle school Volusia, 6/1/10- 12 year old middle school killed by car driver after her school bus had killed by car driver after her school bus had dropped her offdropped her off

The Sad Statistics (2009-10)The Sad Statistics (2009-10)

• 1 on-board student fatality1 on-board student fatality• 10 motorists or passengers killed in other 10 motorists or passengers killed in other

vehicles colliding with busvehicles colliding with bus• 1 non-student pedestrian killed when struck 1 non-student pedestrian killed when struck

by busby bus• 6 pedestrian student fatalities (that we were 6 pedestrian student fatalities (that we were

made aware of) where school bus was not made aware of) where school bus was not involvedinvolved

Crash Reporting Reminders:Crash Reporting Reminders:

• Reporting threshold is $1,000, started 07-08Reporting threshold is $1,000, started 07-08• DOE is continuing to require that districts DOE is continuing to require that districts

reconcile district-reported numbers (DOE reconcile district-reported numbers (DOE system) with police reports (DHSMV system) with police reports (DHSMV system)system)

• DOE receives daily clippings from DOE receives daily clippings from DHSMV of ALL fatal crashes in FloridaDHSMV of ALL fatal crashes in Florida

FATAL Crash Reporting FATAL Crash Reporting

• Districts Districts must providemust provide immediate notice of immediate notice of any fatal crash to FDOE as soon as practicalany fatal crash to FDOE as soon as practical

• Report by phone call and/or e-mailReport by phone call and/or e-mail• Helps district and FDOE answer immediate Helps district and FDOE answer immediate

questions from administrators, mediaquestions from administrators, media• Info is Info is alwaysalways treated as preliminary treated as preliminary • Not meant as substitute for regular FDOE and Not meant as substitute for regular FDOE and

police crash reportingpolice crash reporting

Parent-Student Safety Parent-Student Safety InstructionsInstructions

• Safety instructions must be provided Safety instructions must be provided annually, in writing, as required by Rule annually, in writing, as required by Rule 6A-3.01216A-3.0121

• DOE’s “Are We There Yet?” brochure can DOE’s “Are We There Yet?” brochure can be printed for parents and othersbe printed for parents and others

• Available at Available at www.FAPTFlorida.orgwww.FAPTFlorida.org, under , under the the Manuals and PublicationsManuals and Publications link link

Charter SchoolsCharter Schools

• Now almost 400 in Florida; continuing to growNow almost 400 in Florida; continuing to grow• Districts must ensure charter schools are following Districts must ensure charter schools are following

laws and rules relating to health and safetylaws and rules relating to health and safety

National Congress on School National Congress on School Transportation, May 16-19, 2010Transportation, May 16-19, 2010

• Purpose was to update the National School Purpose was to update the National School Transportation Specifications and ProceduresTransportation Specifications and Procedures

• Florida’s delegation: Mike Connors, Greg Florida’s delegation: Mike Connors, Greg Akin, Fred Murphy, Jerry Klein, Tad Akin, Fred Murphy, Jerry Klein, Tad Kledzik, Bill SchroyerKledzik, Bill Schroyer

• NSTSP and other info at NSTSP and other info at www.NCSTOnline.orgwww.NCSTOnline.org

Issues on the National Radar Issues on the National Radar • NTSB- NTSB-

• Milton, FL crash; bus rolled twice; injuries mitigated Milton, FL crash; bus rolled twice; injuries mitigated by use of lap beltsby use of lap belts

• Huntsville, AL; driver not wearing belt; NTSB did Huntsville, AL; driver not wearing belt; NTSB did not specifically cite lack of driver belt as cause, but not specifically cite lack of driver belt as cause, but many believe it wasmany believe it was

• SIR on Pedal Misapplication; NTSB recommending SIR on Pedal Misapplication; NTSB recommending training for drivers, event data recorders, measures to training for drivers, event data recorders, measures to separate students from bus traffic at schoolsseparate students from bus traffic at schools

• Motorcoaches- NTSB cited fatigue, faulty Motorcoaches- NTSB cited fatigue, faulty maintenance in several crashesmaintenance in several crashes

““Hot Topics” in Yellow World Hot Topics” in Yellow World • Transportation SecurityTransportation Security• Distracted DrivingDistracted Driving• Bullying preventionBullying prevention• Drive-bys (illegal passing by motorists)Drive-bys (illegal passing by motorists)• FUNDING challenges, service cutbacks, threats FUNDING challenges, service cutbacks, threats

to ridershipto ridership• Fuel costFuel cost• Bus costBus cost• Records checksRecords checks

www.FloridaSchoolBusSafety.gov

SESPTC ScholarshipsSESPTC Scholarships

• SESPTC- Awarding two $1,000 scholarships SESPTC- Awarding two $1,000 scholarships again this year for 2011-12 college expenses again this year for 2011-12 college expenses of two graduating high school seniors; parent of two graduating high school seniors; parent or legal guardian must be Florida public or legal guardian must be Florida public school transportation employee meeting school transportation employee meeting income criteria (max $75K AGI)income criteria (max $75K AGI)

• For more info, contact For more info, contact [email protected] [email protected]

FAPT Website and ListServeFAPT Website and ListServe

• www.FAPTFlorida.orgwww.FAPTFlorida.org • Calendar of EventsCalendar of Events• [email protected]@faptflorida.org- Use this address - Use this address

if you want to send email to all FAPT if you want to send email to all FAPT General MembersGeneral Members

• [email protected]@faptflorida.org- for FAPT - for FAPT Supplier MembersSupplier Members

Resources and Links:Resources and Links:

• www.flrules.orgwww.flrules.org• www.leg.state.fl.uswww.leg.state.fl.us• www.fldoe.org/transportationwww.fldoe.org/transportation• www.FAPTFlorida.orgwww.FAPTFlorida.org• www.NASDPTS.orgwww.NASDPTS.org• www.AmericanSchoolBusCouncil.orgwww.AmericanSchoolBusCouncil.org

Questions and Comments?Questions and Comments?

www.fldoe.orgwww.fldoe.org/transportation/[email protected]@fldoe.org or [email protected]@fldoe.org

2011 State of the State: Safety is Still Job One! Presented to 21 st Lake Yale Leadership Conference...

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