Every school bus driver knows that safety comes first. But demonstrating the knowledge and skills needed for safe driving may be no easy task.
That was the lesson drivers from across the U.S. and Canada learned at the 46th annual School Bus Driver International Safety Competition, held in North Carolina last month. Sponsored by the National School Transportation Association, the event took place in conjunction with NSTA’s 52nd annual meeting and convention.
The two-day competition included a written test on July 16 administered at a hotel in Greensboro, followed the next day by a driving skills component at the Thomas Built Buses plant in High Point.
Held on a 20-acre employee parking lot, the skills portion required drivers to show their skills in areas ranging from student loading and parallel parking to crossing railroad tracks. Completion of the entire course took most drivers about 20 minutes.
Judges considered factors such as use of mirrors, parking accuracy and the overall practice of safe procedures. The primary focus was on spatial awareness of the buses, as drivers simulated real-life actions, according to Gary Catapano, chair of NSTA’s Safety and Security Committee.
Geoffrey Roan of Copiague, New York, one of the winners in the small bus division, described the experience as intense. “I didn’t know what to expect,” he said. “I was nervous at first. But it was a great opportunity.”
He added that along with the challenge of the driving itself was the chance to interact with others. “I’ve met drivers from Chicago, Utah, Texas and Canada,” he said. “It’s an honor just to be here.”
To participate, Roan and other drivers qualified by competing in a state or provincial competition. Drivers from both public school districts and private bus companies who had the highest score in each school bus class were eligible.
“These drivers are the best of the best,” Catapano said. “We all realize that the most important safety feature on any bus is the driver. This event supports that concept.”
He added that, as a bonus, the competition fosters cooperation among NSTA members.
“A lot of us in the industry are competitors,” he said. “But when safety is concerned, we all come together.”
In hosting the skills competition, Thomas Built Buses highlighted its 100th year of operation. Now a subsidiary of Daimler Trucks North America, Thomas Built has been operating since its founding as Perley A. Thomas Car works in 1916. With the company’s track record of incorporating safety enhancements in buses over the years, the location for this year’s skills competition seemed a fitting choice, said Ken Hedgecock, vice president of sales, marketing and service for Thomas Built.
“We’re thrilled to have the event here this year,” he said. “It’s a great way to honor the drivers who do a wonderful job of keeping children safe. And it’s certainly a challenging competition.”
Next year’s School Bus Driver International Safety Competition is scheduled for July 16 in Indianapolis.
