Free PACE Transportation Trainings

Transportation Liability

A school district’s duty to protect its students from harm does not begin and end when the bell rings in the morning and afternoon. Transporting students safely to and from school is an important consideration in a district’s risk portfolio. This area, however, is highly nuanced, and it’s not always immediately clear who is liable for a student’s accident-related injury — especially when transportation is contracted out to a private bus company. What are the prudent steps can a district take to mitigate the risk of costly and sometimes tragic school bus accidents? This training will provide districts with a roadmap to follow regarding school bus accident liability, negligence and standards of care.

PACE - Driver Training Program

• Accident Investigation – Sometimes accidents happen when you are driving. What you do next can help determine the likelihood of it happening again. Accident Investigations are an important piece to preventing future accidents. This course is designed to provide information about what an accident is, why and how to conduct a thorough investigation and how to create a report that identifies areas for improvement.
• After an Accident – Everyone reacts differently to traumatic experiences. After an Accident there is important information that you need to provide and get. This training provides tips on what to do, what information to get and best practices to ensure the district is protected.
• Attitude While Driving – Emotions play a large part of an individual’s driving habits. This class is designed to help identify different driving traits based on different emotions. We discuss how the influence of other factors like medications can affect driving and best practices to help mitigate these. 
• Backing and Maneuvering – The ability to handle a vehicle is sometimes taken for granted. This class is designed to discuss the different aspects of handling a vehicle. We discuss different concepts concerning steering, turning and backing. We discuss the dangers associated with parking and best practices that will assist the driver to have better control of their vehicle.
• Bus driver safety – Learn best practice and basic principles of defensive driving. discuss different scenarios, what can be done to mitigate potential losses.
• Defensive Driving – There is a difference between Offensive Driving and Defensive Driving. Defensive Driving is designed to help drivers make the appropriate response to different situations. This class discusses different situations and ideas of how to avoid potential accidents. It provides reminders about emergency service vehicles and some best practices for drivers.
• Distracted Driving –Distracted driving related accidents are increasing at an alarming rate. Drivers are no longer only concerned about other drivers. This class helps identify the many distractions we are faced with today and some best practices for drivers to limit these distractions.
• Driving with Trailers – Driving with a loaded trailer can be a tricky adventure. If the driver is not familiar with this, it can end in disaster. This class is designed to remind drivers about the different aspects of driving related to trailers. We discuss selecting the correct vehicle, connections, steering and securing loads. We will also discuss the challenges of backing a trailer and best practices that will help reduce the risk of an accident.
• Environmental Driving – No matter where you live, drivers are faced with hazards. It is how we react to these hazards that make us safe. Environmental Driving is designed to provide best practices for drivers regardless of what environment they are in. We will discuss how the weather, location you are in and work zones create different risks and best practices for drivers to be aware.  
• Pre-Trip Inspections – Most people jump in their vehicle and drive away only to realize later something is wrong. A Pre-Trip Inspection can reduce or eliminate this from happening. This class is designed to remind drivers of what to check before they leave. We will discuss what to look for outside and inside the vehicle. We discuss different problems that may lead to not driving the vehicle and ideas for reporting these concerns to the appropriate person.
• Drive Square Simulator – The ability for employees to practice driving in a safe environment has been very difficult until now! Our Drive Square Simulator is designed to do just that. Employees now have the opportunity to practice their skills while driving district vehicles with no risk. The simulator is designed to provide different hazards, drivers face every day. Drivers are able to practice the many different concepts they learned during the trainings. Districts that would like to use the simulator are required to attend at least two of our in-person trainings or two of the online trainings.

I have questions...

Contact PACE at pacetraining@osba.org or riskmanagement@sdao.com