The American School Bus Council has exceeded a recent recommendation set forth by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on the use of cell phones by school bus
drivers.
The Council has prohibited the use of cellular phones or other portable electronic devices while driving. Even the devices equipped with hands-free devices are prohibited. The Council has also banned the use of cellular phones while supervising the loading and unloading of students.
According to Donald Tudor, co-director of the American School Bus Council and director of transportation for the South Carolina Department of Education, the Council’s number one priority is the safe transportation of students as it is representative of the entire school transportation industry, including public and private transportation providers, school bus manufacturers and state policy leaders for pupil transportation.
“That is why we adopted a cell phone policy that exceeds NTSB’s recommendation on two fronts, and why we are working to quickly implement this policy through our member organizations,” he explained in a
press release.
Although the Council recognizes that cellular phones and other communication devices can play a crucial role in emergency situations, it believes that these devices should be used only when the school bus is stopped and in a secure location, except in cases of extreme emergency.
The Council released a set of guidelines on pupil transportation for use by those responsible for school transportation such as school districts, bus companies and pupil transportation officials on February 14. These guidelines provide clear national practices on bus driver qualifications, hiring and training; school transportation safety; emergency preparedness; and health and environmental safety.
The guidelines include recommendations made by the 14th National Congress on School Transportation’s “2005 National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures” and new policies that exceed federal and state laws.
“Despite the fact that the school transportation industry is highly regulated and receives no direct federal funding, we are committed to the highest standards of safety,” said Pete Japikse, co-director of the American School Bus Council and pupil transportation director, Ohio Department of Education.
Japikse said that the Council and its members are working to implement these guidelines, which articulate what they in the school transportation industry believe are essential policies and procedures for maintaining their unequaled safety record.
Additionally, the Council is sponsoring "Love The Bus," a national awareness program celebrating the valuable role that school bus drivers play in keeping children safe. The program aims to educate parents, students, school districts, legislators and the public on the guidelines.
The American School Bus Council represents a unified voice of the school transportation industry including public and private transportation providers, school bus manufacturers and state officials responsible for pupil transportation.
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