SCHOOLBUS - SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS - TRUE PROFESSIONALS MESSAGES FROM THE MINISTERS OF EDUCATION AND TRANSPORTATION SAFELY CROSSING THE TRACKS THE ...
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ontario
school bus
SCHOOLBUS
association
NOVEMBER 2014 • VOLUME 23
SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS –
TRUE PROFESSIONALS
Messages from the Ministers of
Education and Transportation
SAFELY CROSSING THE TRACKS
THE DRIVE TO LEAD OTHERS
Conquering Distractions
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p. 2
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SCHOOLBUS NOVEMBER 2014 Volume 23
ontario
school bus
association
contents For school councils, home and school
associations, trustees, administrators
and providers of student transportation
services.
5 Message from Leslie Cross, 14 Safely Crossing the Tracks The Ontario School Bus Association
OSBA President (OSBA) is a non-profit association providing
16 ACET Trains for First Aid… advocacy and education services for the
owners of school bus fleets, school boards/
6 OSBA Directors 2014-2015 and Confidence transportation consortia and supplier/
manufacturer companies across Ontario for
over 60 years. Membership is voluntary; our
8 Messages from the Minister of 18 Conquering Distractions: Mind on the Board of Directors are all volunteers elected
by their peers.
Transportation and the Minister Driving, Eyes on the Road and Hands
MISSION, VISION & VALUES
of Education on the Wheel Every one of the 825,000 children aboard
an Ontario school bus deserves to arrive
10 School Bus Drivers – 20 Twinkle Twinkle Little Light…Rooftop at school safe, secure, on time and ready
to learn.
True Professionals Strobe Lights on School Buses
OSBA Mission
To support and enhance the success of
12 Rural Consortia Takes Proactive 21 Be Seen, Be Safe Program our members in the competitive world of
school busing.
Approach with Enroute
Evacuation Drill 22 The Drive to Lead Others OSBA Vision
An economically healthy and sustainable
industry, safely and reliably serving the
13 Industry Leader – Training Video 24 Education, Information and growing needs of student transportation
in Ontario.
for Special Needs Passengers Networking Opportunities that Benefit
OSBA Values
Evacuation the School Bus Industry • Contribute to student success
• Focus on cost effective and
26 Index to Advertisers efficient operations
• Commit to continuous improvement
• Embrace diversity in our workplaces
• Make a significant contribution to a
greener Ontario
• Anticipate and influence the future shape
of the school bus industry
Published annually by: Published for: Editor: Laurie J. Blake
Ontario School Bus Association Group Publisher: Angela Caroyannis
3401 Wolfedale Road, Project Manager: Kim Davies
Mississauga, ON L5C 1V8 Sales Manager: Bill McDougall
1630 Ness Avenue, Suite 300 Tel: (416) 695-9965 Fax: (416) 695-9977 Advertising Director: Maria Antonation
Winnipeg, MB R3J 3X1 Email: info@osba.on.ca Advertising Sales: Bill Biber, Austen Hoey,
Tel: (800) 665-2456 www.osba.on.ca Wayne Jury, Michael McDonald, Maya Wisher
Fax: (204) 947-2047 Marketing: Katie Doerksen
www.naylor.com Layout & Design: Barry Senyk
Association Director: Michele O’Bright
Magazine Coordinator: Donna Shepherd
©2014 Naylor (Canada) Inc. Safety & Legislation Consultant: Publication Agreement
All rights reserved. The contents of this publication David Carroll Number: 40064978
may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in Government Relations Consultant: PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 2014/
part, without the prior written consent of the publisher. Richard Donaldson SBU-A0014/4198
4 SCHOOL BUS ONTARIO 2014
Message
Message from
Leslie Cross
President, Ontario School Bus Association (OSBA)
A
s I sit down to write this message, it is now the end of second week of the 2014-2015 school year. Approximately
825,000 students have been transported safely to and from school for 9 days in row. In a short two weeks, the
dedicated professionals who accept the tremendous responsibility for our children’s safety have had more than
15 million opportunities to make a difference in a family’s life. By the end of this school year, Ontario’s professional
school bus drivers will have had over 350 million personal interactions with our children. Getting it wrong just once
can have a devastating impact on a child, a family, and a community. The dedicated women and men who make up the
Ontario school bus industry are committed to getting it right every time.
For more than 60 years the school bus industry has been In more recent years, school boards were brought
part of ongoing change and evolution. New technology together to form Transportation Consortia in order to
has provided us with safer buses. Buses with stop arms, amalgamate transportation requirements, maximize effi-
warning lights, crossing gates, stop arm cameras, video ciencies and minimize costs for two or more school boards
surveillance cameras, GPS tracking systems, motion detec- in one geographic region. Through these amalgamations,
tors and child check systems. The industry has advanced in Consortia did an excellent job of sharing the availability of
driver training programs, driver licence checks, criminal one bus to service two or more boards. They successfully
records vetting, medical records screening and ongoing reduced the number of vehicles needed, reducing costs
driver evaluations. All of these safety initiatives have for taxpayers and reducing our environmental footprint.
increased the cost of service, but who would argue that A win-win for all Ontarians.
these were not valuable enhancements for the sole purpose In 2010, the Ontario provincial government intro-
of protecting the safety of our children? duced The Broader Public Sector Accountability Act
In Ontario, we have an enviable record when it comes (BPSAA). This change to the law required all publicly
to student transportation safety, and we are proud of that funded expenditures by public entities, such as school
record. To get it right 100% of the time “takes a village”. In boards/transportation consortia, which exceed $100,000,
order to achieve the level of safe, reliable, on-time service be competitively procured. Industry stakeholders partici-
upon which parents can depend, we rely on our front-line pated in numerous consultations, studies and pilot projects
drivers, driver trainers, safety supervisors, dispatchers, to prepare the industry for this fundamental change. In
mechanics, route planners, managers, Consortia staff, light of this significant shift towards greater account-
school boards, principals, teachers, administrators, trustees, ability and transparency, a number of “growing pains”
Ministries of Transportation and Education. All of these have been encountered across the industry with some
people share one incredible quality – their dedication to companies deciding to exit the industry or to no longer
continuously improving safety. conduct business in certain regions.
Our duty of care and safety remains the cornerstone Notwithstanding this enormous paradigm shift, school
of transporting children to school each day. In recent boards have a long history of working hand-in-hand with
years a lot of time and energy has been invested into how school bus operators to design and deliver routes that trans-
school bus services are purchased in Ontario. Historically, port students to school safety and ready to learn. OSBA’s
school bus operators negotiated a common contract with mandate continues to work towards building partnerships
local school boards. Operators and the business manag- with all school boards/transportation consortia to ensure
ers from the school boards worked together to understand that student safety remains at the top of all agendas.
the costs associated with providing the services that the The process of procuring school bus transportation is
district required. The costs associated with ongoing safety not about low cost, at any cost. It is paramount to always
enhancements, including professional driver development ensure efficiency and effectiveness; however, all stake-
and the ongoing general costs for buses, wages and fuel holders including the Provincial government, Ministry of
were well understood and negotiated collectively. Education, school boards, transportation consortia and
SCHOOL BUS ONTARIO 2014 5
OSBA DIRECTORS 2014-2015
bus operators, must continue to understand and appreciate President, Les Cross
the true cost of delivering this safe, essential service. The Stock Transportation Ltd.
128 Wellington St. W., Barrie, ON L4N 1K9
enviable safety record of the industry cannot be comprised. Tel. (705) 737-9847 ext. 52004
It is imperative to move forward in developing a procure- lesliec@stocktransportation.com
ment system that is fair and transparent and recognizes the Vice-President, Mark Begg
importance of supporting professional school bus drivers Delaney Bus Lines Ltd.
and the professional school bus operators who reinvest in 16935 County Road 43, Avonmore, ON K0C 1C0
(613) 346-2511
their people and their fleets to keep students safe every day. mark@delaney.ca
OSBA has been advocating a positive solution for many
Treasurer, Chris Harwood
years. The Board of Directors of the Ontario School Bus Student Transportation Canada
Association, under the leadership of Past President Perry 160 Saunders Rd., Unit 6, Barrie, ON L4N 9A4
Ferguson, has worked tirelessly to educate the leadership of Tel. (705)-721-2626 ext. 1
charwood@ridesta.com
Ontario on the importance of reevaluating the competitive
procurement of student transportation services and review- Past President, Perry Ferguson
Voyageur Transportation Services
ing the funding that is allocated to the school bus industry. 573 Admiral Court, London, ON N5V 4L3
We have been heard, and in June 2014 Premier Wynne Tel. (519) 455-4579
sent a letter of commitment to both of these much needed perry@voyageurtransportation.ca
reviews. In this magazine, Minister Sandals also reaffirms Director, Kirk Flach
the Government’s commitment to explore various options for Landmark Student Transportation Ltd.
16 Industrial Parkway S., Ste. 101, Aurora, ON L4G 0R4
the competitive procurement of student transportation that are Tel. (289) 840-7110
in keeping with the BPSAA. In the months ahead, OSBA is kirk.flach@landmarkbus.com
looking forward to participating with industry stakeholders Director, Raymond Goulden
on continuous improvements in safety and service, unham- Beaulieu Bus Lines
pered by the realities of competitive procurement. PO Box 1285, Longlac, ON P0T 2A0
Tel. (807) 854-0479
On August 11, 2014, the OSBA Board of Directors revi- goulden39@hotmail.com
talized the association’s strategic plan with a major focus Director, Dave Harris
on several key objectives and strategies including continued First Student Canada
investment in industry safety and legislative consultancy, 1111 International Blvd, Suite 700, Burlington, ON L7L 6W1
expanding the engagement of members and investing in Tel. (289) 288-4359 ext. 331
david.harris@firstgroup.com
public relations. As current OSBA President, it is a great
Director, Tom Jezersek
honour to work with such dedicated Board volunteers and Pacific Western Transportation
contractors who remain committed to ensuring credibility, 823 Highfield Avenue SE, Calgary, AB T2G 4C7
professionalism and student safety in all association activi- Tel. (403) 398-6980
ties and for the Ontario school bus industry. tom@corp.pwt.ca
It is my sincere belief that the dedicated professional Director, Brian Jobson
DanNel Transportation
women and men driving our children from home to school 10-12 Keefer Rd., St. Catharines, ON L2M 7N9
and back to their families each day will benefit from all Tel. (905) 934-1124
the hard work that is going on behind the scenes at OSBA. bjobson@dannel.on.ca
Safety requires an investment. A well-trained, long-term Director, Kevin Langs
professional driver behind the wheel of a safe, reliable bus Langs Bus Lines Limited
66 Zimmerman Ave. S., Strathroy, ON N7G 2G7
is worth every penny Ontarians invest. As guardians of the Tel. (519) 245-2350
students in their care, government, school boards, transporta- kevin@langs.com
tion consortia and bus operators will need to expeditiously Director, Nick McRae
work together to resolve the procurement issues that have Roxborough Bus Lines Ltd.
engaged the school bus industry for a number of years. RR 1, 17504 Dyer Rd., Maxville, ON K0C 1T0
Tel. (613) 488-2337
OSBA looks forward to a new era of collaboration dedicated nick@roxboroughbus.com
to continuous improvement in safety. By our collective and
Director, Jim Switzer
continuous support we will empower the many dedicated Switzer-Carty Transportation Inc.
and professional school bus drivers to continue to provide 1006 Plains Rd. E., Burlington, ON L7T 4K2
350 million positive interactions with our children this year, Tel. (289) 288-1366, ext. 107
jim.switzer@switzer-carty.com
next year and for decades to come.
Association Director, Michele O’Bright
3401 Wolfedale Road, Mississauga, ON L5C 1V8
Les Cross Tel. (416) 695-9965 ext. 3
President, OSBA mobright@osba.on.ca
6 SCHOOL BUS ONTARIO 2014
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SCHOOL BUS ONTARIO 2014 7
30/08/13 1:20 AM
Message from Message from
Steven Liz
Del Duca Sandals
Minister of Minister of
Transportation Education
S E
chool buses are a familiar sight on Ontario very morning in Ontario, more than 825,000 students get to school safely
roads. Every day, more than 825,000 stu- and on time because they have access to a world-class network of student
dents travel in about 18,000 school vehicles transportation services. For most students, that means a school bus, those
across Ontario. iconic yellow symbols of education recognized around the world and revered
As a parent of two young children, I know many by families for their dependable service and professional operators.
parents rely on school buses to get their children
to and from school. I also know that every parent Ontario is a leader when it comes to excellence in student transportation ser-
wants to make sure their children stay safe in their vices. We never get tired of telling people there are over 18,000 school buses or
travels every day. school-purpose vehicles used every day, each of them supporting student achieve-
I am proud to report that our province’s school ment, promoting equity and enhancing public confidence in our education system.
buses and drivers are among the safest in North And despite travelling nearly two-million kilometres daily, Ontario’s student
America. School buses are among the safest ways transportation services have an impeccable track record when it comes to safety.
for our children to travel. Research shows that rid- The quality of service you provide is reflective of the school board administra-
ing the school bus is 16 times safer than travelling tors and bus operators who expertly deliver student transportation and maintain
in the family car. the transportation network. Whether you are responsible for driving the bus or
Ontario’s school buses are the safest they have planning the bus routes, your work is highly regarded by our government. More
ever been. They reflect the most current safety importantly, it is highly respected by those you serve – students and their families.
features available for new school buses. In the past Significant investments and ongoing modernization are also helping to
decade alone, we have added a crossing arm on the keep student transportation moving in the right direction. Our government
front of the bus, better side mirrors for the driver, has increased student transportation funding to approximately $884 million in
lights around the entrance and exit doors of the 2014-15, an increase of 40 per cent since 2003.
bus and more emergency exit windows. I am also pleased that we are moving ahead with our commitment for an
We’ve also heard from school bus drivers and independent review of competitive procurement processes for student transpor-
companies about your concerns for making school tation. The review will look at current competitive procurement practices and
buses safer. That’s why this past spring we intro- student transportation Requests for Proposals to identify best business practices
duced legislation, re-introduced this fall, to make and opportunities for improvement in competitive procurement of student trans-
sure school buses are the only buses permitted to portation in Ontario. The review will also explore options other than RFPs for
be painted chrome yellow. competitive procurement of student transportation that are in compliance with
The Ministry of Transportation works closely the Broader Public Sector Procurement Directive for the consideration of the
with schools, road safety groups and school bus school board sector in Ontario.
companies to promote school bus safety. We’re As you can tell, I am very appreciative of our student transportation services
committed to educating students and parents about and those who deliver them. We are committed to the ongoing modernization
important safety rules and reminding all drivers of of the sector because, like everything in education, we know there is always
their responsibility to stop for school buses when more to do, improvements to make and goals to achieve.
they’re picking up or dropping off passengers. I am grateful to have strong stakeholders such as Ontario’s school boards and
Keeping our children safe takes hard work and school bus operators to help us in the modernization process, and ensure we get
dedication from all our safety partners. As a par- it right. That requires a healthy dialogue between our government, school boards,
ent and as Minister of Transportation, I extend my operators, families and more. Thank you to all who are reading this and have
gratitude to the Ontario School Bus Association contributed to this ongoing conversation.
and its members. Because of your commitment, In closing, I wish you all a wonderful 2014-15 school year. I look forward
parents across the province can know their children to working with you all as we strive to achieve excellence, ensure equity,
are safe when travelling to and from school. promote well-being and enhance public confidence in our publicly funded
education system.
8 SCHOOL BUS ONTARIO 2014
Animated Safety Videos
Great Training Tools for Drivers and Students!
First Time Bus Rider Safety Video
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Sudbury Student Services Consortium de services aux élèves de Sudbury. All rights reserved.
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Sudbury Student Services Consortium de services aux élèves de Sudbury. All rights reserved.
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9
SCHOOL BUS ONTARIO 2014 15/08/14 12:57 AM
School Bus Drivers –
By Mark Begg
W
hat comes to mind when you
hear the term “professional”?
Lawyer, doctor, accountant or
engineer? Perhaps you think of a teacher,
police officer, pilot or athlete. These pro-
fessions are generally associated with
lengthy qualifications and often require
years of study, training or experience.
Whatever your definition of a “profes-
sional” entails, it should include one
more: school bus drivers. And here’s why.
School bus drivers not only require
qualifications to operate a larger vehicle,
they must also undertake countless hours
of training, are subjected to numerous
evaluations, be certified in First Aid, CPR
and the use of EpiPens, undergo defensive
driving refresher courses, student man-
agement training and ensure our most
vulnerable passengers are delivered into above and beyond their regular work and the Infrastructure Health & Safety
proper care each and every day. duties and providing outstanding per- Association (IHSA) also provide some
The argument can also be made formance. But when the difficult global excellent opportunities to help employers
that school bus drivers act as parents, economy occurred several years ago, provide recognition to their employees.
safety crusaders, friends, emergency many companies were forced to cut back
first responders, conflict resolution on incentive programs or put them on Certified Professional
specialists, negotiators, search and res- hold in order to stay financially viable. Bus Operator
cue officers, inclement weather experts, However, based on more recent The Motor Carrier Passenger Council
petroleum engineers, vehicle technicians research, such as the McKinsey Survey of Canada (MCPCC) was founded in
and transportation analysts. undertaken in the Fall 2009, non-cash January 1999, as a Human Resources
Furthermore, most school buses are motivators are no less and can be more Sector Council, and brought together
now equipped with electronic communi- effective motivators than highly-rated all bus sectors, labour, education and
cation technology, passenger-monitoring financial incentives, such as: government, in order to address criti-
video systems, automatic vehicle-loca- • Praise from immediate managers; cal human resources issues that were
tion systems, global positioning systems • Leadership attention (such as one-on- affecting all areas of the Canadian bus
and computerized information systems. one conversations with someone in a industry. Over the past 15 years, the
This increasingly sophisticated face of leadership role); MCPCC has built a professional suite of
bus transportation means that a wide • A chance to lead or participate on ground-breaking programs including the
variety of skills are required, including company projects or initiatives. National Occupational Standards (NOS),
business, technical and social skills. As Given the results of recent surveys, accreditation and certification, labour
a result, school bus drivers must partici- how can any individual or organization market information, best practices and
pate in an on-going process of acquir- provide recognition to these dedicated e-learning tools.
ing new skills and knowledge. When and professional men and women? More specifically, the MCPCC,
you bring together all of these varied The next time your local school bus working with unions, bus companies,
and multiple responsibilities, it could driver picks up or drops off a group of associations, educational institutions,
certainly be said that school bus drivers students, why not take a moment to say government and individual operators
are “professionals” in many ways and “Thank you. Great job!” Or, the next time from coast to coast, developed a certi-
deserve to be recognized as such. you are waiting in traffic and see flashing fication program that allows bus drivers
In the past, many believed that money lights on a school bus, perhaps simply to earn the designation as a “Certified
and other non-monetary incentives were smile and wait patiently as children enter Professional Bus Operator (CPBO).”
generally the best way to recognize and or exit safely to their destination. “Certification” means formal rec-
motivate employees. Bonuses and other Moreover, the Motor Carrier Pass- ognition and professional designation
rewards were given to workers for going enger Council of Canada (MCPCC) of licensed bus operators who have
10 SCHOOL BUS ONTARIO 2014– True Professionals
demonstrated their knowledge, experi- Nationview Public School in South
ence and abilities evaluated against the Mountain, Ontario recently awarded
National Occupational Standards. one of their school bus drivers, Deborah
To be eligible for designation as a Marriner, with a “Character Always”
CPBO, an individual must have received award as part of their monthly recog-
training through an accredited train- nition ceremony. Laurie McElheran,
ing program (accreditation available Principal at Nationview Public School
through the MCPCC), or have evidence said, “Deb takes great pride in her job
of completed training which meets the and has tremendous courage to ensure
National Occupational Standards; have everyone arrives both at school and
three years bus operator experience; home safely. Nationview has an awe-
hold an applicable driving licence for some team looking after our students
the sector to which certification is being and it is important for us to recognize
sought; and must consent to abide by the Richard Fleming, School Bus Driver at these very important people.”
Delaney Bus Lines, receiving CPBO certif-
MCPCC’s Code of Ethics. icate from Mark Begg, General Manager.
The Office of the State Superintendent
Receiving his certification as a CPBO Division of Student Transportation (OSSE
at the company’s start-up meeting in individuals and giving them confidence DOT), a regional transportation system
August 2014, Delaney Bus Lines Limited in the company; providing documenta- that transports special needs students in
school bus driver, Richard Fleming, said tion of the employee’s history of safety; the District of Columbia, introduced a
“Having seen some of my fellow driv- and demonstrating to customers and oth- recognition program to celebrate out-
ers receive this designation in the past ers that quality of service is provided. standing school bus drivers and atten-
gave me something to look forward to. Darlene McNamara, a school bus dants. The overall goal of the program is
I’m proud to be a school bus driver and and motor coach driver with Delaney to boost employee morale and promote
even more so to work for a company Bus Lines Limited received her 23-year the highest standards of professionalism
that takes the time to recognize their safe driving award pin this past August. and compassion. Nominations for the pro-
drivers’ efforts.” McNamara said “It is with great pride gram are collected from schools, parents
Joan Crawford, Executive Director that I wear my safe driver award pin. Not and students through an online survey.
of the MCPCC sums up the Council’s only does it mean I have maintained a Each month OSSE DOT recognizes one
belief in accreditation, saying, “This safe driving record, it also means I have exemplary bus driver and attendant from
program clearly demonstrates that maintained my passengers’ safety – and each of its four bus terminals. The driv-
the bus sector is a vital contributor to for me, that is priority number one.” ers and attendants receive a silver lapel
Canada’s economy and is committed pin, a framed certificate, a bus magnet to
to the development and sharing of best Celebrating Outstanding display on the driver-side door of their bus
practices. We know that our industry School Bus Drivers and an engraved plaque. The drivers and
is leading the way in professionalism Other industry recognition initia- attendants of the year receive a gold lapel
and training excellence, while earning tives have been implemented using a pin, a framed certificate, a bus magnet to
increased respect for individual opera- wide variety of in-house programs to display on the driver-side door of their
tors and companies across the country.” formally recognize and celebrate out- bus and an engraved plaque.
standing performance.
Safe Driver Awards Student Transportation of Eastern Return on Investment
Similarly, the Infrastructure Health Ontario (STEO), the transportation con- Recognizing the professional school
and Safety Association of Ontario sortium for the Catholic District School bus driver has many tangible and intangi-
(IHSA) established their safe driver Board of Eastern Ontario (CDSBEO), ble benefits. Not only does it let employ-
award program to provide employers and the Upper Canada District School ees know that their work is valued and
with a system to recognize the health and Board (UCDSB), implemented an appreciated, it also gives them a sense of
safety performance of their employees. “Outstanding Bus Driver” recognition ownership and belonging in their place
The benefits of IHSA’s safe driver program. Students are invited to com- of work. When a driver feels appreci-
award program includes: demonstrat- plete an on-line form highlighting the ated, they are most likely to contribute to
ing the importance of working safely; reasons why they are nominating their the overall success of the organization,
demonstrating the company’s appre- bus driver. Winning drivers are recog- and ultimately the industry, knowing
ciation of a job well done; improving nized with a certificate of outstanding that their roles are valued. Furthermore,
employee morale; building confidence in work and a gift of appreciation formal recognition can help contribute
SCHOOL BUS ONTARIO 2014 11to positive employee morale, enhance
company loyalty and ultimately help Rural Consortia Takes Proactive
employee retention.
Having been a long-time proponent of Approach with
driver recognition, Tom Jezersek, Vice-
President of student transportation for
Enroute
Pacific Western says, “The roles and Evacuation
responsibilities of a school bus driver
are endless. Simply put, doing whatever Drill
I
we can to help raise awareness of their n Northwestern Ontario the
important roles, and provide them with challenge is not the number of
all the recognition that we can, is the students but servicing the exten-
least we can do as an employer.” sive geography. This Consortium area spans approximately 80,000 sq. km. As
Whichever method an individual or a result, the Northwestern Ontario Student Services Consortium’s buses carry
organization recognizes a school bus students from multiple schools and school boards on the same buses. Although
driver, it is important to simply acknowl- evacuation drills are occurring at local schools, students did not have any oppor-
edge them. The MCPCC Certified tunity to practice the drill with their fellow bus students.
Professional Bus Operator designation, During the 2013/14 school year, in co-operation with area bus operators, an
the IHSA Safe Driver Award Program Enroute Evacuation Drill Program was developed. Two planned drills occurred
and recognition programs such as those where sites were pre-determined and the driver conducted either a narrative or
implemented by STEO, Nationview physical evacuation with the students. General Manager, Judi Green, stated,
Public School, and OSSE DOT provide “This program has had positive feedback from both the parents and bus driv-
formal opportunities to distinguish the ers. With the challenging winter we had in the North, the training was used on
men and women who, undeniably, make several occasions.”
this a professional industry.
f ield tri p M ar k et p lace
Curriculum based Physics and Math
exercises at our Snow Tubing Park
Ski Adventure Centre and Snowboard
Ride Centre
14 km of scenic snowshoeing trails
Programs satisfy OSBIE and Ontario
curriculum guidelines
Hightech learning with our Geocaching
Program
Innovative teaching methods mean
more learning, greater safety.
Only 55 minutes from
Hwys. 400 & 401.
12 SCHOOL BUS ONTARIO 2014
593164_Snow.indd 1 7/14/12 9:38:03
491056_SIMCOE.indd
AM 1 8/16/10 4:23:12 PMIndustry Leader
Training Video for Special
Needs Passengers Evacuation
T
he safety and care of children video will be available, by the mid to end
is constantly at the forefront of of December 2014, to all Ontario School
each and every school board, Bus Association (OSBA) bus operator
transportation consortium, bus opera- and transportation consortia members
tor and school bus driver not only in as part of their annual membership pro-
Ontario, but across Canada. Over the gram, and to all OASBO Transportation
past couple of years, a very special group Committee members. For non-members
of volunteers have worked together to wishing to purchase a copy of this DVD,
not only maintain their vision of ensur- please complete the order form found on
ing maximum safety of special needs the OSBA website at the following link:
student transportation in Ontario, but www.osba.on.ca.
for increasing awareness and develop- Sincere thanks is extended to the
ing a product to help train and involve following volunteers who gave tire-
professional school bus drivers, parents lessly of their time and effort to bring
and special needs children. Beth Buttenham of Stock this video to fruition: Renée Boucher
“We were unable to find a training Transportation is pleased with the pro- (Sudbury Student Services Consortium),
video that included Canadian vehicles, duction of this DVD and says, “Parents, Michel Boyer (Consortium de Transport
using real students and authentic sce- teachers and students alike can feel Scolaire de L’Est), Beth Buttenham
narios to specifically train new and assured that this DVD will help all (Stock Transportation), Cindy Cain
seasoned school bus drivers and oth- school bus drivers think about what is (Veolia Transportation), John Hollick
ers to deal with evacuation prepared- done to evacuate students with special (Camera/Editor-First Student Canada),
ness of students with special needs.” needs, including those in wheelchairs, Christine Johnson (Landmark Student
said Karen Lacroix of Halton Student and the need to be thoroughly trained in Transportation/Sinton Transportation),
Transportation Services. So these dedi- the event that an incident occurs.” Karen Lacroix (Halton Student
cated volunteers started from scratch: It is anticipated that the Special Transportation Services), Faye
they developed a plan, working directly Needs Passenger Evacuation training Wilkinson (Stock Transportation).
with students with special needs who
were enrolled in both elementary and
secondary schools, and their parents,
used Canadian vehicles from regular
Make Every™ Bus Better.
in-route service and have produced a ®
DVD that can be shown and used by a
wide variety of audiences. • Better Fuel Economy.
“This DVD is an excellent source of — Up to 3% better than our ’07 ISB
information to not only train and inform
• Better Performance.
professional school bus drivers, but also
— Improved driveability and throttle response
school board personnel, transportation
consortia staff, teachers and parents • Better Reliability.
regarding what drivers of special needs — Best-in-class durability and dependability
vehicles are really involved with on a day-
to-day basis. It highlights the significance • Better for the Environment.
of routing and scheduling these vehicles, — Near zero NOx and PM emissions
and most importantly, what needs to be — Improved MPG results in smaller carbon footprint
done to evacuate students with special
needs in the event of an emergency.” said For All Your Cummins Powered School Bus Engine Needs.
Renée Boucher of the Sudbury Student Bill Lupkoski – Manager Bus Business – 416-553-6525
Cummins Eastern Canada
Transportation Consortium. 905-795-0050 or 1-888-CUMMINS
491084_Cummins.indd 1
SCHOOL BUS ONTARIO 2014 13
9/21/10 8:57:32 PMSafely
Crossing the Tracks
By Dave Carroll
T
he tragic collision between a transit bus and a VIA drivers behind that the bus is slowing to a stop. (While the law
rail passenger train in Ottawa in September 2013 is does not require the “four-ways” to be used, it is an industry
a poignant reminder to all drivers of the deadly con- best practice observed by most bus companies.)
sequences of railway grade crossing accidents. “Train time Stopping at a railway crossing other than in the right
is anytime” and weighing thousands of tons, trains can take hand lane on a multi-lane roadway should be avoided as
up to two kilometres to stop. Every day in Ontario, school it can compromise the driver’s vision down the tracks and
buses safely cross railway tracks many thousands of times, the ability to hear when the service door is opened. Also,
demanding the complete attention by drivers and unwavering stopping other than in the right-hand lane can increase the
compliance with provincial railway crossing legislation enacted chance of being rear-ended by a motorist behind the bus who
to ensure student safety. might not be paying attention. Next, drivers should turn off
noise producing devices in the bus, including circulation
Legislated Crossing Procedure fans, heater/defroster fans, radios or radio speakers, etc.,
Since 1997, school buses are the only vehicles in Ontario to enhance the driver’s ability to hear an approaching train
that must stop at all grade (level) railway crossings, whether or the signal bells. School buses manufactured for sale in
or not the crossing is protected with warning signal lights or Ontario on or after January 1, 2005 are required by law to
gates. Prior to that, school buses were only required to stop at have a noise suppression switch located within easy reach of
unprotected crossings, those without warning signal or gates. the driver that will simultaneously disable the above noise
The Ontario Highway Traffic Act, Section 174 (2) requires the producing accessories.
driver of a school bus upon approaching a railway crossing, Once the bus is stopped no closer than five metres from
whether or not it is protected by gates or railway crossing signal the nearest rail, the driver must open the ser-
lights, unless otherwise directed by a flagman, to: vice entrance door fully, and listen for an
1. Stop the school bus not less than 5 metres (16 feet) from approaching train. While not required by
the nearest rail of the railway; law, many bus operator companies have a
2. Look in both directions along the railway track; policy that drivers are to set the park brake
3. Open a door of the school bus and listen to determine if before opening the service door as an extra pre-
any train is approaching; caution. It is also good practice to open the driver’s
4. When it is safe to do so, cross the railway track in a gear side window to enhance the driver’s ability to hear
that will not need to be changed while crossing the track; a train or warning bells.
and When it’s safe to do so, the bus can pro-
5. Not change gears while crossing tracks (manual transmis- ceed across the tracks, provided suffi-
sion buses). cient space in traffic exists on the other
Rail crossing legislation and safety procedures are a part side for the bus to fully clear the cross-
of the classroom and on-road school bus driver training cur- ing area. School bus drivers are routinely
riculum. During on-road training, drivers practice the manoeu- reminded “If it won’t fit – don’t commit!”
ver over and over and must demonstrate their knowledge While school buses have to stop at
and correct operational procedures during the Ministry of all grade crossings, public vehicles
Transportation of Ontario (MTO) road test to obtain a school that are not school buses need
bus (Class B or E) drivers licence. only stop at unprotected cross-
When approaching a level crossing, the driver of a bus with- ings which have no warning
out a sequential mode warning light system must check to see lights or gates. These vehicles
that the “master” switch that controls the red overhead warning must observe the same stop-
lights and stop arm is turned off, so as to prevent their opera- ping procedures as above, but
tion when the door is opened. Next, the driver should get into there is no requirement for
the right-hand lane of traffic and when slowing down, activate a noise suppression switch
the “four-ways” (not the red overhead warning lights) to warn in the vehicle.
14 SCHOOL BUS ONTARIO 2014A split-second lapse in judgement or driver inat-
tention at a level crossing can prove disastrous. For
this reason, school bus companies routinely reinforce
A Lesson on the
and remind their drivers of railway crossing legisla-
tion and company standard operating procedures.
Importance of Opening
Occasional spot checks by the operator’s staff at the Service Entrance
Door and Side Window
grade crossings can help ensure 100% compliance
with company policies and the law. In addition to
operator monitoring, police agencies, including CN
By Dave Carroll
Rail and CP Rail police, enforce the school bus
stopping laws and issue tickets for rail crossing viola- The importance of opening the service entrance door and the
tions. The most common infractions are not coming driver’s side window was recently emphasized in a Transportation
to a full stop five metres from the nearest rail and Safety Board (TSB) investigation report on a school bus-train col-
not fully opening the service door before proceeding lision that occurred in March of 2013 in Carlyle, SK.
across the tracks. The driver of the 72-passenger school bus carrying seven elemen-
tary school children proceeded from a stopped position at a level
Operation Lifesaver crossing (which had no warning lights or gates) into the path of a
School bus operators can access school bus driver CN freight train travelling at 40 km/hr. The Board determined the
training resources offered by Operation Lifesaver, school bus driver was unaware of the approaching train. The bus was
a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to severely damaged and one child received minor injuries.
prevent collisions between trains and motor vehicles. The investigation determined that the school bus stopped at the
Operation Lifesaver was formed over 30 years ago stop sign before attempting to cross the tracks; however, the driver
when the railway companies joined forces with the did not open the door as level crossings in Saskatchewan, which
federal, provincial and municipal governments in have a stop sign posted, are deemed a “controlled crossing” where
Canada to build lasting and aggressive programs to opening the door is not required by law. (Saskatchewan has since
improve railway-related safety. One of their train- changed its law in response to the TSB’s report.) The driver did not
ing programs is aimed specifically at school bus see or hear the train as it sounded its horn. The investigation deter-
drivers called, “Make it a Round Trip.” It provides mined that the driver was likely distracted by tasks associated with
an Instructor’s Guide, Student Note Book and a the road traffic and pedestrian activity in the vicinity. In addition,
Safety Quiz as downloadable files on Operation the school bus frame (A-pillar) and side mirror adjacent to the door
Lifesaver’s website at www.operationlifesaver.ca/ obstructed the driver’s view and concealed the train.
resources/professional-drivers. As part of its investigation, TSB conducted an on-site re-enactment
Railway crossing safety is a consideration when of the collision using a similar CN train and an identical school bus
school bus routes are established in collaboration that produced some interesting findings. Train horn sound levels
between the transportation consortia or school were recorded using a similar locomotive equipped with an identical
board and the school bus operator. Factors such horn. While the measured sound values for the horn met Transport
as driver sightlines and obstacles, train traffic Canada regulatory requirements, they found that train horns do not
volumes, curved vs. straight track, protected vs. consistently provide adequate warning to school buses that have
unprotected crossings, potential driver distractions, doors and windows closed when stopped at railway crossings.
proximity to intersections, etc., are all factors that are It was further determined that the average ambient noise in the
taken into account when assessing risks and making school bus with the engine on high idle and door closed was in excess
route decisions. For example, in urban areas with of 70 decibels. Had the door been opened (as is required in Ontario)
numerous level crossings, some protected and it could have increased the perceived loudness of the train horn by
some unprotected, routes should be designed between 20 and 30 decibels. They also found that while seated in
wherever possible to utilize the protected the driver’s seat, with the bus at low idle and with windows and front
crossings. door closed, the train horn cannot be heard above the ambient noise
Level railway crossings are a fact of life and level in the bus until the train is approximately two seconds from
usually cannot be avoided. While they the crossing. With a moving bus, the horn cannot be heard until the
add an element of risk to a school route, train is one second away or less. For these reasons, the TSB report
they can be safely managed with good recommends that the driver’s side window also be opened to improve
driver training, ongoing compliance a school bus driver’s ability to hear an approaching train.
monitoring by the bus operator, and As a result of their findings, on June 30, 2013, the TSB issued a
constant reminders to drivers that Rail Safety Advisory Letter to Transport Canada titled School Bus
“train time is anytime” and that level Safety at Railway Crossings. The letter indicated that train horns
crossings demand a school bus driv- do not consistently provide adequate warning to school buses that
er’s undivided attention and focus – at have doors and windows closed when stopped at level crossings.
every crossing – every time.
SCHOOL BUS ONTARIO 2014 15ACET Trains for First Aid…
and Confidence
G
etting students to school on
time is your job, but getting
students to school safely is
your responsibility as an owner and
an operator. First aid knowledge and the
confidence to respond in an emergency
are critical skills – ones that OSBA
member Active Canadian Emergency
Training Inc. (ACET) has made its busi-
ness to deliver.
Established in 1992 by advanced care
paramedics, ACET’s philosophy is that
the first aider’s role is critical in the
response to emergencies. Yet, ACET
founders witnessed bystanders who had
first aid training but were not confident
to use the skills they had learned. This throughout his 33-year career in polic- her EpiPen Jr. She cried and pulled
observation led ACET to develop The ing and knows that emergencies are away but I had her leg secured and we
Approach™ to managing emergencies. unpredictable, and rarely happen in an counted together to ensure the full dose
The Approach, currently delivered to “ideal” setting. was received. Without your advice on
more than 1,000 companies and over “It isn’t just the content that makes securing the leg, I would have with-
16,000 participants every year, is criti- ACET courses memorable for partici- out a doubt wasted the Pen and had to
cal to providing school boards, police pants. We invest a lot in our instructors. administer another one. Also due to
services, government and private sector It’s their passion for teaching and years your teaching, I was able to mentally
clients with a regulated, first-aid train- of experience in the field that resonate rehearse exactly what I would do should
ing course focused on the first aider with the class,” says Bardgett. “We have something occur.”
knowing what to do and being confident a great team of people teaching our pro- To complement a full host of regu-
to respond. gram and making training fun.” lated and non-regulated first aid courses,
“The Approach is designed to leave Course participants often reach out ACET also manages and implements
participants with the confidence to to the ACET office to share stories of AED Programs as a national reseller of
respond in the critical first seven min- how their training kicked-in and helped LIFEPAK AEDs. Every year in Canada,
utes of an emergency happening, prior them save a life. For instance, days 35,000 to 40,000 people die of sudden
to paramedics’ arrival,” says Andrew after taking a course with ACET, Peel cardiac arrest (SCA) and when SCA
Outinen, General Manager, ACET. “And Region Police Officer Ashley Kirmin occurs outside of a hospital setting,
while we hope no one ever has to pro- was faced with a family medical emer- less than five percent of patients sur-
vide CPR or use an automated external gency and he credits the program with vive. Early intervention of defibrilla-
defibrillator (AED), we want every per- giving him the confidence to respond tion coupled with trained responders can
son who takes our training to be able to when his daughter suffered anaphylac- dramatically increase the survival rates
provide lifesaving care.” tic shock. Kirmin wrote to say thanks of someone experiencing SCA.
Slides and video are used as teach- to his instructor Deb Hartman who “Our goal is to get as many AEDs in
ing tools in ACET’s Emergency and taught him how to correctly administer public areas, workplaces and homes as
Standard First Aid courses, but par- an EpiPen®, which saved his daughter’s we can,” says Outinen. “The more AEDs
ticipants also go into their workplaces, life, saying, “It was immediately clear that are readily available, the more lives
practicing scenarios in stairwells, bath- she was in respiratory distress, but dis- will be saved.”
rooms or in the parking lot. ACET played no outward signs of swelling One particular story that stands out
Instructor Supervisor, Mike Bardgett or hives…remembering Deb’s advice, for Outinen is a workplace that used
responded to many emergencies I secured her leg and administered their LIFEPAK CR Plus to save an
16 SCHOOL BUS ONTARIO 2014employee’s life. The client had been
working with ACET for years, was
an early adopter of AEDs, having a
LIFEPAK CR Plus onsite for 10 years,
and held annual AED training. One
afternoon, an employee found a co- www.kleenoil.ca
worker unconscious and unresponsive,
and jumped into action and made the call
to 911. While waiting for paramedics to
arrive, the first aider used the AED,
which delivered multiple shocks. After
being hospitalized for several weeks
the employee made a full recovery. “If
that organization had not invested in an
AED, that story might have had a dif-
ferent outcome,” Outinen notes.
Success stories and positive feedback
from clients is what drives ACET and
fosters the level of excellence its clients
and students have come to expect in the
classroom and operationally.
As it has done for the past 22 years,
ACET will continue to support Canadians
with excellent training in an effort to
make homes and workplaces safer. “What
we are doing by teaching useable first aid
and implementing AEDs will empower
people to save lives…this is what drives
me and makes me excited to go into work
every day,” says Outinen.
Since 2000, ACET has been a wholly
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SCHOOL BUS ONTARIO 2014 17
12/07/14 11:22 PMConquering Distractions:
Mind on the Driving, Eyes
on the Road and Hands
on the Wheel
New laws to reduce distracted
driving are lauded by school
transportation professionals,
but the industry is already
leading the way.
By Eric Woolson
S
chool transportation professionals agree that new regu-
lations to stiffen penalties for cell phone usage while More Than Cell Phones and Coffee Cups
driving in Ontario should make roadways safer but Like any other driver, school bus drivers are susceptible to
the benefits will come from outside school buses rather than three distractions – taking their eyes off the road, their hands
from within. off the steering wheel or letting their minds wander away
“School transportation has always been ahead of the game from the road. One of the biggest distractions is the overhead
in terms of safety regulations, practices and policies. They’ve mirror they must glance at as they check on their passengers.
always been the trend setter, if you will, and distracted driv- Begg, who is also a certified professional driving instructor
ing and cell phone use are no exception,” explained Kathy and Director with the Ontario School Bus Association, said
Furneaux, Executive Director of the Pupil Transportation school bus drivers “face all the distractions you face in your
Safety Institute in East Syracuse, NY. “The public is just car, except they may have 72 kids behind them.”
catching up to the industry.” Pedestrians, traffic, cyclists, road hazards, numerous stops
Mark Begg, General Manager of Delaney Bus Lines in and starts and, surprisingly, parents at bus stops are among
Avonmore, and Beth Buttenham, Senior Safety and Training the plethora of distractions.
Specialist of Stock Transportation, headquartered in Barrie, “Parents may think the bus stop is a great time to talk to
praise government officials for choosing to impose stricter the driver but in urban communities, especially, you may
penalties on motorists caught texting while driving. have 10, 15 or 25 kids getting on or off at the same corner, the
“Significant awareness has been brought to the issue, espe- driver needs to focus attention on where every one of these
cially with the hands-free ban,” said Begg, whose company has kids is going. A conversation with a parent takes the driver’s
a school transportation division that transports approximately mind and eye off the kids. Often times, we ask the driver to
2,200 students for two transportation consortia represent- put up a hand or finger to stop the conversation. It might be
ing four different school boards in Eastern Ontario. “I think abrupt but it’s not to be rude because their first and foremost
Ontario is on the right track.” responsibility is the kids’ safety,” said Begg.
However, their companies have long prohibited drivers While bus drivers may not be distracted themselves, they
from using cell phones on the job. And, it doesn’t end with also must be prepared to react to other drivers who are.
cell phones. Neither company allows drivers to use hands-free “Not only do school bus drivers have to avoid becoming
devices, ear phones, navigational systems, eat or carry that distracted, but they have to remain focused on defensive driving
favorite cup of coffee, either. so they don’t get caught up in some other motorist’s distrac-
They both agree, professional drivers wouldn’t want it any tion,” Furneaux said.
other way. “Bus drivers are aware they need to have 110%
focus on the road all the time,” Begg said. Student Management is “Big”
Furneaux added, “Being a trained driver and understanding Maintaining order on the bus is a crucial factor in reduc-
the consequences of not following those rules and policies is ing driving distractions, Buttenham said. Drivers do that by
what makes the school bus driver a safer driver.” developing a confidence in rules and policies, their authority
18 SCHOOL BUS ONTARIO 2014You can also read
