As a school bus comes to a halt on a busy street, the driver swings out the vehicle's stop arm and turns on flashing red lights. Most drivers know what those signals mean--they are required by law to stop their vehicles so that children can safely cross the thoroughfare. However, many drivers simply choose to ignore the law. Thousands of…

Discusses areas that have provided the bulk of negligence claims against public school districts while transporting students: (1) bus stop locations, (2) duration of responsibility, (3) school bus boarding supervision, (4) driving a bus negligently, (5) driver violations, and (6) inadequate supervision during transit. Appended are 19 notes. (MLF)

Outlines the information necessary for schedule calculation of school bus runs. Describes the use of The Quick Route Optimizer software program for computer calculation of school bus routes. Includes four charts. (MD)

More children are killed outside their school buses than inside. To solve this problem, we should improve bus design, provide driver training programs for all school bus drivers, utilize the latest safety devices available, and improve ridership safety curriculum. (MLF)

To avoid losing money when buying a bus, a school board should know its district's needs, use the district transportation officer's expertise, investigate local dealers' credentials, learn about differences in bus quality, follow detailed specifications, and pay promptly upon purchase. (RW)

In suburban-rural Albemarle County (Virginia), computer assistance in evaluating manually-designed school bus routes helped increase efficiency in pupil transportation and reduce the number of routes, buses, and vacant seats. (RW)

Discusses the pros and cons of diesel fuel and propane gas as alternative fuel systems for school buses. (Author/MLF)

Representatives of two school districts argue the advantages they find in the use of diesel-engine buses over gas-engine buses. The advantages include reduced maintenance and better mileage. (IRT)

Provides 39 tips than can save school systems gas, money, or both. The tips are arranged in three categories--general policies, bus maintenance, and gas-saving purchases. (Author/IRT)

During the 1995-96 school year, the Savannah-Chatham County (Georgia) Public Schools averaged 800 daily telephone complaints about transportation. Applying total-quality-management principles improved client satisfaction via a Pareto problem analysis chart, a customer response data-collection team, and driver teams who strategized ways to reduce…

Suggests that diesel exhaust from most of the nation's school buses may be hazardous to children's health. Documents studies on the nature and potential magnitude of the risk to children and proposes replacing petroleum diesel with biodiesel as the fuel for school buses. Presents the merits and practicality of switching to biodiesel as a healthier…

The important role of special education bus drivers is highlighted, and parents are offered suggestions for making their child's transportation to and from school a positive experience. Suggestions include following proper procedures, informing the driver of any special concerns, solving problems with compromise, and treating the driver in a…

Commonly recommended strategies for improving school bus order and safety include developing and communicating basic rules and consequences, ensuring consistency between bus and school rules, assigning teachers to supervise bus loading areas, providing bus drivers with training in preventing disruptions, installing radio systems, and involving…

Explains how the use of lifts, restraints, and movable seating on school buses helps schools provide safe transportation to students with special needs. The importance of air conditioning for students with respiratory problems, particularly as the schools expand their summer courses, is highlighted. (GR)

School buses present great exposure to vehicle self-pollution. Fixed nitrogen loss in oceans is attributed to anammox. Oriented attachment allows nanowire design.