Questions and Answers
Indiana School Bus Driver Performance
Standards and Measurements
575 IAC 1-8
Applicability of Performance Standards
Who
is subject to the driver performance standards rule?
Any school bus driver, including those individuals who operate
a school bus for a private school, head start, day care center,
or other agency, who receives an initial Standard Certificate (yellow
card) on or after January 1, 2002.
Who
is exempt from meeting the performance standards?
Any school bus driver holding a valid Standard Certificate
issued prior to January 1, 2002 is exempt from the standards.
This is commonly referred to as being “grandfathered.”
The exemption is contingent upon a driver keeping his/her Standard
Certificate continuously renewed. “Continuously renewed” means
the driver attends an annual safety meeting in the calender year
when the Standard Certificate is due to expire.
Can
an exempt driver lose the exemption and become subject to the
performance standards?
Yes. If a Standard Certificate is allowed to expire, the driver
becomes subject to 575 IAC 1-8 in addition to all other reinstatement
requirements. For example:
A driver did not attend an annual safety meeting in 2001 to renew his/her Standard Certificate. When the Standard Certificate expired on December 31, 2001, the driver became subject to the performance standards. The loss of exemption is permanent even if the driver re-instates the Standard Certificate in the next calendar year by attending a preservice driver training class or an annual safety meeting.
When
is a driver tested?
Drivers subject to the performance standards should be tested for
the first time within a reasonable time as determined by the local
school corporation.
How
frequently must a driver be re-tested?
The timing of future compliance with the standards will correspond
to the two-year renewal cycle of the school bus drivers physical
fitness certificate required at IC 20-9.1-3-2. The physical fitness
certificate requirement is coordinated with , and satisfied by,
the issuance of the medical certificate required for a commercial
drivers license or public passenger chauffeur license. Please refer
to IC 20-9.1-3-3, school bus drivers, physical examination, time.
How
many times may a driver attempt to meet the performance standards?
The number of attempts is determined by the local school corporation.
What
happens if a driver does not meet the performance standards?
This is an employment decision by the school corporation.
Administering the Standards
Who
can administer the driver performance standards?
Any individual(s) selected and approved by the school corporation.
Are
there forms prescribed by the State School Bus Committee to document
a driver’s passage of the performance standards?
No.
Is
the school corporation form documenting a driver’s passage
of the performance standards sent to the State School Bus Committee
or others?
No. The forms documenting a driver’s passage of the performance
standards are maintained by the local school corporation.
If
a school bus driver who has passed the driver performance standards
changes employers, is the driver subject to re-evaluation by
the new employer?
This is a local school corporation decision. A school corporation
is encouraged to document the passage of the performance standards
for every driver subject to 575 IAC 1-8 who operates a school bus
on behalf of the school corporation.
If
a school bus driver is a substitute driver for more than one
school corporation, must the driver pass the performance standards
for each corporation?
This is a local school corporation decision. A school corporation
is encouraged to document the passage of the performance standards
for every driver subject to 575 IAC 1-8 who operates a school bus
on behalf of the school corporation.
In
what size school bus should the performance standards be demonstrated?
This is a local school corporation decision. The school corporation
is encouraged to evaluate the driver in the largest size school
bus the driver is licensed to operate or that the driver will operate
for the corporation.
Must
the performance standards be demonstrated in the order they appear
in the rule?
No.
What
method does a driver use to demonstrate exiting the rearmost
emergency door in performance standard #1?
The driver should exit in any controlled manner that is comfortable.
This standard is not timed, so a driver should not exit the bus
so quickly as to loose balance or coordination. It is permissible
for a driver to sit on the floor in the emergency exit doorway
and then slide to the ground.
Another individual may be present to “spot,” as in gymnastics activities, to help prevent injury. The individual spotting should not touch or otherwise assist the driver to exit the bus, but be available to help if the driver starts to fall. A mat, such as a typical gym mat, may be placed on the ground outside the exit to cushion the landing.
Is
the service door in performance standard #4 required to be a
manually operated door?
No. If the school bus is equipped with an air or electric powered
service door the driver should demonstrate normal door operation,
including operation of the manual override. However, if a driver
may be required to operate a school bus with a manual service door,
the school corporation is encouraged to evaluate the driver in
that vehicle, too.
Some
school buses do not have hand controls on the right side of the
steering wheel. How does this effect performance standard #5?
In this instance you may have the driver demonstrate use of a second
hand control on the left side of the steering wheel. However, if
the driver may be required to operate a school bus that has hand
controls on the right side of the steering wheel, the school corporation
is encouraged to evaluate the driver in that vehicle, too.
What
speed is considered a safe forward motion in performance standard
#5?
This is a local school corporation decision. The school corporation
is encouraged to use a speed representative of at least a residential
speed limit.