INCREASED BUS SAFETY EMPHASIZED

Scott City schools Superintendent Roger Tatum is ready for the dark, foggy mornings of early October to end.

Tatum calls the period just prior to the end of daylight-saving time "the worst case scenario" for school bus drivers responsible for safely transporting students to and from school.

Residents will turn back their clocks one hour Oct. 29. The time change will mean it appears lighter in the mornings and darker in the evenings.

"The time when I am most concerned is about this time of year, when the drivers have to pick up students before daylight," Tatum said. "It's just so dark out, and they can't really see well, so they have to go slower and be a little more careful."

The hazardous conditions are increased by fallen leaves, which often lie wet on roads, making it difficult for motorists to react quickly to stopped buses or children crossing the street.

Area school districts are emphasizing the need for increased safety on and around school buses this week as part of Bus Safety Week activities. Student education and driver training are emphasized, as are the pre-trip inspections all bus drivers take before putting their buses on the road.

"We pound it into their heads, so to speak, that a good, quality pre-trip is important," said Susan Sasche, contract manager for First Student Transportation, which provides school buses for Cape Girardeau School District and three other districts in Southern Illinois. "There's lots of children's lives and motorists' lives as well as their own that's relying on a good pre-trip."

Annual safety checks

During the pre-trip inspections, drivers ensure the brakes, lighting systems, seats, mirrors and other items are in good working order on their vehicles.

The inspection is an abbreviated form of the 105-point inspection of every school bus in every school district performed annually by the Missouri Highway Patrol. That inspection covers brakes, steering, lighting, tires and emergency equipment -- much more than just a kick of the tires.

Of inspections performed in spring 1999, about 86.5 percent of Missouri school buses were passed on the first inspection. Another 12.3 percent were rejected for lesser deficiencies like blown light bulbs or other easily repairable problems. Only 1 percent of buses were taken out of service for major problems.

Jackson and Scott City school districts both posted perfect scores in inspections and earned Fleet of Excellence Awards from the state.

About 92 percent of the 25 buses used by Cape Girardeau schools passed on first inspection. The remaining 8 percent were rejected for minor deficiencies but later passed inspection.

"We keep our fleet in top running condition because we do know there are lives at risk," said Sasche. "It's an ongoing safety training process for drivers."

Drivers' ability

Not all bus safety depends upon maintenance. The ability of drivers and their background also comes into play.

Most school districts perform criminal and driving record checks before hiring drivers. Driving records are checked periodically to ensure licenses have not been suspended or revoked.

"We try to concentrate on finding the safest people and weeding out those people who would be a little less desirable," Sasche said.