School Bus Safety

The educational responsibility the possibly the actual expense will say. My concern today is why we are here once again for the past four years. I have testified at least seven times in committees discussing this very same bill. In each instance to be our case and ofttimes with a bill sponsor a president or a member or as a member of that particular committee it made without reservation to the bill. We're not releasing the committee although I understand the thrust of this bill. It was for economy purposes to place a price on human beings is ludicrous. You are dealing with a potential of 54 serious injuries or deaths at one time as a PTA a state safety chairman representing 280000 parents. I've received many calls throughout the years from concerned parents who ask me why can't we do something about getting those old glasses off the road. Because that was a problem for the older buses. Here's an extension 12:32 one thing

we've said in the past we have testified to this committee and my memory serves me correctly I believe it was from Hartman Pupil Transportation. The statement was made when they were actually testifying against any extension beyond 10 years. And the comment was that by the grace of God after a very serious injury that a 20 year old bus that had just occurred more serious injuries hadn't occurred. And to that mind is basically saying that the damage from Rosol high mileage and keep in mind contract buses are used for short trips day camps and many other excursions as well. Ofttimes a extremely high mileage comment. What happened to be kept in safe operating condition is still safe. Board of Education again. Difficult enough and keeping 10 year old buses on the road expense. Now

we're going to be talking more. OK. All right. Sure. We go girls like this. I is where you see that you're OK. All right. Ready. But Phyllis what's the advantage of a bus like this over the others. All right. This is what we consider a safety for us. It always looks so smooth and fills in the last 30 seconds either way. So what is it John. What's the advantage of a bus like this. All right. This is what we consider a no safety bus with a new federal standards. But the unique thing about this bus is that with West d'Argent Jersey where this bus is from we go beyond the federal standards. Now as of May 1st 1970 we don't need yet. We're going to get to that. I've got to we've got to refer to these two things here if we could all asked the

same question. All. What's the unique thing about these bus in particular. Right. It has a 28 inch high backed safety seat and that has an escape hatch that is in the event that a bus turns over and they do turn over when they're hit broadside the hatch can be open and students could walk right out they will do that again. And when you're explaining ahead open it. The feel is what's unique about this particular bus. This is what we consider a safety bus that we have. We are talking as if conversational and then when you do it when we're ready to go get ready we can do it as many times as well. Phyllis what's unique about this particular bus. Jim this is what we consider a safe bus. It has a 28 inch seat which goes four inches higher than the federal standard that was passed in May of 77. This prevents whiplash in the event of an accident. If events facial and dental injuries to safety another feature that we have here is an escape hatch

oft times if a bus is hit broadside and a bus turns over it's on its side the rear door cannot always be open metally all you do is release a latch. Open up the hatch and the young people can walk right out. Students can walk right next to safety feature. I don't think so. That's why this is the story. OK. Before we do go

your pathways all in the

forecast my question will be you know we're ready. OK. OK. Senator are you satisfied that by extending the life of these buses children will still be safe. Personally I'm satisfied or I wouldn't have sponsored the legislation that's not the first time I've been on such legislation. We passed a bill in the Senate I think it was by a vote of 32 to three. About four years ago that was sponsored primarily by Senator IKH of Pharaoh who was no longer with us. And that bill died on the assembly primarily because of the opposition at that time of the School Boards Association which has now changed its position and favors such legislation to extend the life of the boss. So in some Then why. What is the benefit of extending the life of

the buses because I have to live and represent and I'm privileged to represent a district where practically all the children within the legal limits that is those who are more remote than two miles from an elementary school and two and a half miles from a secondary school virtually all of them have to be transported. We don't have any city areas where there's no transportation at all. And there are about 110 districts in this state where there is no bus transportation because all the children live within the limits prescribed by the legislation so they have to find alternate means of getting to school. I happen to think that this is a permissive bill that would grant the option of using a particular bus more than 10 years up to 12. And I see nothing wrong with that because I think it's still consistent with pupil safety which is the paramount concern of all of us. OK. The thing I just want to ask is basically

wouldn't the poorer districts basically be the ones that would extend the buses and be at a disadvantage compared to the richer districts in the first place. Districts are reimbursed at the rate of three quarters as I recall it. You got it. Got it. I think it's what's one of the principal drawbacks of these older buses now the principal problem is that metal

fatigue the design strength of the metal is lost over a period of years. And the metal starts to rust and gives way like a parenthesis fender. OK I'll say one thing we got to go quicker. No pretty. OK. What's one of the principal drawbacks of these older buses. My biggest problem is metal fatigue and with metal fatigue the metal gets rusty don't move at all. You get it just on the rust and the metal gets rusty and shake it shake. So what happens. You OK. Well let me just tell you I don't do it again. I just keep

walking. OK good. What's the safety hazard that a safety hazard is that the metal loses its design strength and in an accident it folds up like cardboard instead of steel. So that's your biggest problem. That's in a nutshell folks. So you're seeing on the cable. Yes.

The government says all you do is. Really. OK. Basically what's the unique feature about these seats the 28 inch high back seat which offers a protection from whiplash in the event of an accident or if the bus stops short. And this is four inches higher. And the federal safety standards that was passed in

May of 1977. OK. OK here we do it one more time. Phyllis once again we have to ask you this question. What is unique where they can see me laughing. What is unique about this seat. This is a new 28 inch federal safety seat. It is very useful in the event of a bus accident when the bus stops short it prevents whiplash and facial injuries. OK you got it. Got it.