DES MOINES – Delegates to the 16th National Congress of School Transportation efficiently moved through a number of updates to the National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures Manual today during their first full day of work, narrowing rejecting a mandate for crossing control arms.
By a vote of 24-22, delegates rejected a proposed change that would have stated, “School buses shall be equipped with a crossing control arm mounted on the right side of the front bumper. When opened, this arm shall extend in a line parallel to the body side and aligned with the right front wheel.” Instead, the manual will continue to indicate that buses “may” be equipped with the devices.
The rationale for the change noted that 26 states currently mandate crossing control arms. Children in states without mandates “are at higher risk when crossing in front of a school bus while loading/unloading. This inequity is rectified giving all students equal safety standards.”
Speaking in opposition, Oregon delegate David Farley, head mechanic at the Salem-Keizer Public Schools, said a mandate would unnecessarily increase maintenance costs and would be unneeded on some vehicles. He said crossing arms still are not long enough to ensure safety.
Michigan delegate Fred Doelker, a traffic safety instructor and coordinator for a Grand Rapids-area transportation firm, concurred. He said crossing control arms provide a “false sense of security” that cannot substitute for drivers counting – and accounting for – every student at every stop. Doelker also said poor road conditions in parts of Michigan “shake things loose” and would boost maintenance costs. Another concerned, expressed by the Ohio delegation, was that the proposed change would be an unfunded mandate on districts and states.
Congress On-site Chairperson Terry Voy, representing the Iowa Association of School Boards, said he was not surprised the issue was dispatched in about five minutes. “We’ve pretty much talked it through over the years,” he said during a break. “And, of course, most states have mandated it.”
Another revision marked the end of an era as delegates voted 42-4 to remove all language about bus clutches “as all school buses now feature an automatic transmission.”
Delegates approved new language in the Body and Chassis Specifications section to allow buses to have a left-side entrance door located immediately behind the driver “to be used exclusively for curb side loading/unloading on one-way streets.”
In all, the delegates debated and took action on dozens of amendments before adjourning for the day shortly before 6:00 p.m. They return to session at 8:00 a.m. Tuesday for another full day of work, picking up where they left off in the General Operations section.
