N.H. Admin. Code § Saf-C 1305.02

Current through Register No. 36, September 5, 2024

Section Saf-C 1305.02 - Pre-Service Instruction

(a) Each school bus driver shall successfully complete, as determined by his/her employer, the program of instruction for driving a school bus. The length of instruction shall be a minimum of 10 hours. Road skills training shall be exclusive of instructional time.

(b) Each new and renewal contract negotiated by a school district for school bus transportation shall contain a clause requiring each school bus driver to undergo training in accordance with the requirements of (c) and (d), below.

(c) Pre-service instruction shall include the following:

(1) Instructing each school bus driver to cope with:

a. A range of environmental issues;

b. Issues pertaining to the vehicle; and

c. A range of issues involving pupils;

(2) Promoting an understanding and application of federal and state laws and rules governing the operation of a school bus;

(3) Instruction regarding the application of basic first aid measures;

(4) Instruction regarding emergencies such as fire, accidents and adverse weather conditions;

(5) Instruction regarding the performance of visual pre-trip safety inspections and the completion of vehicle inspection reports;

(6) Instruction regarding the basic concepts of pupil control and discipline;

(7) Instructing each school bus driver to become familiar with his/her role in promoting safe fleet performance;

(8) Instructing each school bus driver to become familiar with the necessary record keeping procedures for driving a school bus as required by these rules and the driver's employer;

(9) Instruction regarding the type of vehicle the school bus driver shall be driving including:

a. Smooth starting, stopping and turning techniques;

b. Proper use of signals;

c. Use of mirrors;

d. Proper use of the clutch and gearshift or automatic transmission; and

e. Picking up and discharging pupils;

(10) Instructing each school bus driver to become familiar with the necessity of stopping at railroad grade crossings pursuant to RSA 265:50;

(11) Instructing each school bus driver to become familiar with the procedures for conducting emergency evacuation drills for every means of egress, including:

a. Front door evacuation;

b. Rear door evacuation;

c. Front-rear door evacuation;

d. Kicking out the windshield; and

e. Using roof hatches and side emergency doors;

(12) Instructing each school bus driver to report emergency evacuation drills to the designee of the school district no later than October 15th and May 15th of each school year;

(13) Instructing each school bus driver to report emergency evacuations to the designee of the school district within 24 hours after the evacuation; and

(14) Instructing each school bus driver to become familiar with the requirements of 49 CFR 382, pertaining to controlled substances and alcohol use and testing, as well as the employer's policies and procedures with respect to those requirements.

(d) Each school district shall certify that each school bus driver has satisfactorily completed the pre-service instruction program before the school bus driver is certified by the director. The company or school bus owner shall maintain records for 24 months indicating the dates of training, the period of time and the areas covered.

N.H. Admin. Code § Saf-C 1305.02

#4873, eff 07-24-90; ss by #6297, eff 7-23-96; ss by #8122, INTERIM, eff 7-17-04, EXPIRES: 1-13-05; ss by #8248, eff 1-4-05

Ss by #10439, eff 10/11/2013 (See Revision Note at chapter heading for Saf-C 1300).