School Bus Fleet, November 2015

8 SCHOOL B U S F L E E T N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 5 Dont weaken Head Start transportation rules Thank you for the two articles addressing NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekinds comments regarding school bus safety September 2015 issue pgs 4 and 8 I call your readers attention to the Department of Health and Human Services Notice of Proposed Rulemaking NPRM that seems to contradict Mr Rosekinds call for improved school bus safety What seems to me ironic is that the NPRM proposes to remove some current provisions of 45 CFR 1310 with respect to the use of passenger restraints school bus driver training and safety education for children enrolled in Head Start programs Each of these areas of concern in my view should be strengthened and not weakened in Head Start transportation regulations Has the federal stance on preschool age childrens safety changed to the extent that now Head Start passengers need not be restrained during bus rides proposed removal of 131015 d And have NHTSAs and FMCSAs positions regarding school bus driver training softened of late such that they would agree with the NRPMs 131017 a d and e that if approved would remove the Head Start driver training requirements Are preschoolers so mature that they do not need safety education or supervision during travel to and from bus stops If not why does the NRPM propose to remove 131021 a and 131021 c 1 and 2 and e from the current regulations I hope that Mr Rosekind uses his influence to intercede on behalf of safety and exerts his authority to retain the occupant restraint school bus driver training and child safety training requirements that were incorporated in the initial version of 45 CFR 1310 If he really is sincere about improving school bus safety Head Start passengers need his advocacy to defeat the above referenced proposals in the Head Start NPRM GEORGE HORNE President Horne Enterprises Metairie Louisiana More response to NHTSA seat belt discussion I read your article last week and thought I would share my opinion I wrote a paper on the seat belt subject and I still stand by what I say in it Feel free to share Editors note The paper can be downloaded via schoolbusfleet com SBSCposition Each new regulator wants to ride in on a white horse and address this issue that is led by uneducated public opinion The upside 1 If we fit every school bus with threepoint seat belts and if the students put them on correctly we will save one childs life each year and reduce a number of injuries 2 They will reduce disciplinary issues nice to have but there are other ways to do this The downside 1 A bus went into water in Tampa Florida in September see story on pg 11 There were no seat belts If they were all wearing seat belts would they all have escaped 2 There is a cost to adding belts Monies are not unlimited what will have to give I hope not an increase in walking distances 3 Around 800 children are killed each year getting to and from school by a means other than a school bus Lets invest any available monies into reducing this 800 not in saving one 4 If the seat belts are worn too high or too low the childs risk of serious injury increases over no belt at all 5 Nooks and crannies of seat belts retain germs and are difficult to clean For me this is a no brainer Lets save many of the 800 who are killed not the one My only interest is doing the right thing for the majority of kids JEFFREY CASSELL President School Bus Safety Co Hudson Ohio WRITE TO US We welcome letters expressing opinions on SCHOOL BUS FLEET and topics it covers Letters may be edited and become property of the magazine Send comments to info@ schoolbusfleet com or Editor SCHOOL BUS FLEET 3520 Challenger St Torrance CA 90503 www schoolbusfleet com General Manager James Blue VP Publisher Emeritus Frank Di Giacomo Associate Publisher Mark Hollenbeck Executive Editor Thomas McMahon Managing Editor Nicole Schlosser EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD David Anderson director of transportation and fleet service Adams 12 Five Star Schools Thornton Colorado Michael Dallessandro transportation director Greece N Y Central School District Ted Finlayson Schueler president Safety Rules Syracuse New York Tim Flood executive vice president The Trans Group Spring Valley New York Derek Graham North Carolina state director of pupil transportation Pam McDonald director of transportation Orange Calif Unified School District Michael Shields director of transportation and auxiliary services Salem Keizer Public Schools Salem Oregon Cheryl Wolf special needs transportation consultant Lafayette Indiana Senior Production Manager Sarah Paredes Art Director Yuda Chen Audience Development Manager Bill Ciesielczyk For Subscription Inquiries 888 239 2455 Classified Advertising Sales Donna Stewart 405 260 1678 Fax 405 260 1684 Email donna_ stewart@ cox net Edward J Bobit Chairman 1961 2014 NAPT Hall of Fame 1999 President and CEO Ty Bobit VP and Chief Operating Officer Cyndy Drummey Chief Financial Officer Armand Del Duca BUSINESS EDITORIAL OFFICES Bobit Business Media 3520 Challenger St Torrance CA 90503 310 533 2587 Fax 310 533 2512 Email sbf@ bobit com Website www schoolbusfleet com General Manager James Blue 310 533 2449 Fax 310 533 2512 Email james blue@ bobit com VP Publisher Emeritus Frank Di Giacomo 49 S Maple Ave Marlton NJ 08053 856 596 0999 Fax 856 596 0168 Associate Publisher Mark Hollenbeck 3115 NE McDonald Ln McMinnville OR 97128 503 472 8200 Fax 503 472 8228 Email mark hollenbeck@ bobit com PRINTED IN U S A feedback