| Oct 17, 1999 - 10:35 PM Week highlights safety of school bus riders
Catawba County official says vehicles undergo regular inspections By KIMBERLY WILLS
Record Staff Writer
With 216 school buses on the road every day in Catawba County, the county bus garage must make certain they are safe for young riders.“We check a bus more than you ever thought of checking your automobile,“ said Catawba County Schools Transportation Supervisor Tony Eagle. Nationwide, schools are celebrating Bus Safety Week through Friday. The Catawba County Schools bus garage maintains buses used by Catawba County, Hickory Public and Newton- Conover City Schools. Each bus is inspected once a month, “steering, lights, wheels - the whole nine yards,“ said Eagle. Oil changes and regreasing are part of the 3,000 mile inspection. At 12,000 miles the bus wheels are pulled for brake inspections. The buses undergo a major inspection at 24,000 miles. “We disassemble quite a few components and check on those,“ said Eagle. The inspections are in addi tion to the monthly garage inspections and the yearly inspection required by the state. While bus drivers begin the day by visually inspecting their bus, children begin at the bus stop. Bus stops are set up one- tenth of a mile apart according to state regulations, said Eagle. All new stops are visually checked before being used. On country roads with speed limits up to 55 mph, the system places the stops in locations with 500 feet visibility. “K through third-grade kids we don't like walking on highways so we pull in and get them as close to home as possible,“ said Eagle. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration suggests parents supervise children at bus stops to avoid roughhousing and children playing in the street. According to the administration, there is a danger zone 10 feet deep around a school bus that children should avoid when the bus is stopping and starting or waiting at a stop. If crossing the street, children should be at least five large steps in front of the bus to ensure the driver can see them. While on the bus, children must obey driver rules for safety. They should sit quietly, stay in their seats, refrain from horseplay and remain silent at railroad crossings, the theme of this week's National School Bus Safety Week. Students learn the rules during the first five days of school. Catawba County school bus drivers are dual-employed with the systems and many are teacher assistants who teach the safety classes. Reach Kimberly Wills at 322-4510, Ext. 247 or kwills@piedmontpublishing.com.
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