NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE DIRECTORS OF PUPIL TRANSPORTATION

September 1998

Enclosed for your information and use is a copy of the final report, "Identification and Evaluation of School Bus Route and Hazard Marking Systems ." The study and report were completed under a Grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and directly support recommendations made by the National Transportation Safety Board and the U.S. Department of Transportation to perform a study of school bus route hazards.

The report discusses the work conducted under the Grant, which forms the basis of the following conclusions:

• Driving hazards can and do exist on school bus routes.
• Driving hazards on school bus routes that are of a "fixed" nature can be identified.
• School transportation officials should establish a program to routinely and systematically evaluate all school bus routes for potential driving hazards.
• A list of potential fixed school bus route driving hazards has been developed for use in evaluating school bus routes.
• Information on potential school bus route driving hazards should be provided to all regular and substitute school bus drivers, route planners, dispatchers, and other appropriate personnel.
• School bus drivers should be trained on how to effectively deal with potential school bids route driving hazards, of both a fixed or sudden nature.

The National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services encourages states. local school districts, private/parochial schools, and Head Start providers to review this report in conjunction with their school transportation operations and take whatever actions are necessary to ensure that school bus route driving hazards are identified and made known to all appropriate school bus drivers and school transportation personnel.

This report may be copied and distributed.