School bus safety is a top priority for the Clark County School District (CCSD).
CCSD currently has the largest District-owned school bus fleet in the country with more than 1,930 buses.
The Transportation Department follows strict procedures every day to ensure the approximately 123,000 eligible bus riders arrive safely. The idea of “safety above all” is instilled in bus drivers on day one when they’re hired.
“If you have the mind frame of ‘I must be safe before anything else, safety before schedule, safety above all’, it becomes a lot easier,” said Teddy Miller, a Transportation driver instructor, who is tasked with preparing new bus drivers for the road.
It all starts in the classroom. Each new hire must complete 20 hours of classroom instruction and obtain the proper licensing to operate a school bus.
Drivers must also complete 20 hours of behind-the-wheel training, which includes practicing at the “Skills Pad” at the Wallace Bus Yard. This allows drivers to understand how to properly adjust mirrors, learn how to reverse and parallel park the lengthy buses as well as get accustomed to the space it takes to turn.
“We have classroom training. We have on-the-road training. And it doesn’t just stop once you leave here as a new driver. We continue training throughout the year,” Miller said.
Then there are the safety features on each bus.
“There is the 360 camera system that does offer live view now that the District has recently installed. Of course, we have the stop arms,” Transportation Operations Manager Louis Schulenburg said. “They have two-way radio communication so if they have issues, they can contact their dispatcher immediately.”
On top of that, District buses are constantly inspected.
Every driver must complete a 10-minute “pre-trip inspection” of their bus before each route, which includes visually inspecting the entire bus to make sure the tires are safe, the cross-arms are operable, the engine fluids are adequate and more. Nevada State Police also thoroughly inspect every CCSD bus once a year to ensure safety.
The District understands it’s entrusted by many community members to get their children to and from school safely.
CCSD buses drove 21 million miles during the 2022-23 school year with less than one accident per every 100,000 miles. That occurs all while the fleet covers an area of 7,891 square miles daily, which is equivalent to the entire state of Massachusetts.
The District remains committed to “safety above all”.
To learn more about CCSD Transportation, visit here.
