Winter is the most inappropriate time to drive any type of vehicle rather than a school bus. Student safety is the most important and risky job for a school bus driver, and doing it on a wintry surface is more difficult than usual. If we talk about Dubai in winter to avoid foreseeable accidents due to smoking, most schools have adopted safety measures. With it, the driver also drives carefully in wet winter weather to protect young children and follow safe driver Dubai program.
Winter driving conditions can cause delays
Driving on snowy and icy roads can cause driver delays due to reduced speeds or obstacles such as accumulated snow. School bus drivers know that they carry society’s most precious asset: their children. Thus, these winter weather-trained drivers, who drive and drive well-equipped vehicles, take children safely to and from school and home. Schools and parents work together to establish procedures for unpredictable delays, but how do school bus drivers prepare?
Preparation for winter driving
Driving a school bus can be stressful, so winter driving conditions make an already difficult job difficult. Safety can be improved and driver stress can be reduced with preparation. I like it? With specialized winter driving training, well-equipped and well-maintained vehicles, the driver can concentrate on the task at hand. But what about the bus itself? By using certain strategies and solutions, driving performance in poor conditions can be improved. School bus drivers must always be prepared for changing weather conditions. It is always important to bring additional weather gear to withstand the winter. Some of the winter clothes may include
• Thermal
• Winter parka
• Gloves
• Extra socks
• Winter boots
• Waterproof
• Mesh hat or cap
• Cloths
• Lantern
•Ice scraper
Anyone who has driven in the snow knows that winter driving is difficult, especially for heavy vehicle drivers. Driving a school bus in the snow requires a special set of skills to keep students safe. Here are some tips for school bus drivers on how to drive the bus safely in winter.
1. Plan Ahead
Don’t wait for winter to come, take preventive measures in advance the weather can get too mild in an instant, so you better be prepared for the winter to come. Take security measures that include
• Set departure times earlier and take alternate routes that are much safer from inclement weather.
• Ensure a stable communication channel with the teaching staff.
• Perform a manual overhaul of school buses before the winter season, making sure the vehicle is intact.
2. Train Drivers
The winter road conditions are nothing like normal driving conditions, covered with thick snow, the roads will be slippery and slippery, the driving rules set by the Ministry of Transport would not be enough to ensure the safety of the buses schoolchildren. Therefore, school bus drivers must undergo specialized winter training.
• Driver training should consist of
• Importance of increasing vehicle following distance
• The relevance of braking
• Importance of slow acceleration, steering and braking
• Allow a greater stopping distance
3. Prepare School Buses for winter
School buses must be equipped to withstand the winter season before the season begins. School bus drivers must understand the limitations of their vehicles and must maintain regular school bus maintenance.
Here are some tips for school bus drivers to keep in mind when making the school bus winter safe.
• All batteries must be tested before the season.
• Change to winter tires or make sure all tires have enough tread.
• Install the antifreeze brake line.
• Introducing a new windshield and wipers for snowy weather.
• Check all switches and lights to make sure they are working.
• Introduce an active product.
• Check all switches and lights to make sure they are working.
•Apply an anti-fog product to the interior window and to reduce the adhesion of snow and ice, use a rainproof material on the exterior window.
• To ensure emergency traction, school buses, at all times during the winter, must contain oil absorbent or cat litter.
You don’t know what to expect in bad weather; sometimes even skillful driving is not enough. Here are some additional tips to remember.
Pay Attention
Use extra caution at bus stops, school zones, and bus loading and unloading areas where there is a high possibility of large snowdrifts.
Slow down, don’t rush
In harsh winter conditions, take your time, at this time student safety must come first, including respect for schedules.
Don’t take risks, drive safely
At intersections, always be careful with other drivers and if you have any concerns about continuing, don’t, sometimes it’s best not to take any road.
Be winter-proof
Wear hats, boots, and winter clothes that keep you warm. Instead of bad weather, you shouldn’t feel any discomfort while driving.
Use of headlights
Countless accidents have happened because drivers have been caught by a vehicle they did not see until too late.
In inclement weather conditions such as rain, sleet, snow, and sleet, you should turn on your headlights so that others can see you.
Any weather condition that causes vision problems is enough to turn on your headlights while you are driving.
Anticipate road conditions
In winter, the roads will be rough and dangerous, so a safe driver will maintain a healthy distance between vehicles and other objects in front of you so that you can react to any unwanted events at the end of the route.
Ice your bus
Before starting the vehicle, be sure to clean all chunks of snow and ice from the windows, mirrors, headlights, and make sure the vehicle is visible to other people. Under normal traffic conditions, stopping, turning, and maintaining the legal speed limit can be controlled using good driving techniques.
But when you come across roads covered in snow and ice, the whole dynamic changes. In extreme winter circumstances, despite the incredible dangers posed by the slippery surface, drivers should exercise extreme caution and practice the tips mentioned above to keep the vehicle and students safe.