8615 - ANTI-IDLING AND SMART DRIVING PROCEDURES

Upper Arlington City School District

Administrative Guidelines

8615 - ANTI-IDLING AND SMART DRIVING PROCEDURES

Effective October 1, 2004, Section 3301-83 of the Administrative Rules for Pupil Transportation requires school districts to adopt an engine idling policy for all District-owned diesel powered buses.

Diesel exhaust form an idling bus can accumulate in and around the bus and pose a health risk to students, drivers, and the community at large. Therefore, the following guidelines shall apply:

When school bus drivers arrive at loading or unloading areas to drop off or pick up passengers, they should turn off their buses as soon as possible to eliminate idling time and reduce harmful emissions. The school bus should not be restarted until it is ready to depart and there is a clear pat to exit the pick-up area. Exceptions include conditions that would compromise passenger safety, such as:

		1.	extreme weather conditions
		2.	idling in traffic

	B.	At the school bus garage, limit the idling time during early morning warm-up to what is recommended by the manufacturer (generally three (3) to five (5) minutes) in all but the coldest weather.
	C.	Buses should not idle while waiting for students during field trips, extracurricular activities or other events where students are transported off school grounds.
	D.	In colder weather, if the warmth of the bus is an issue, idling is to be at a very minimum. The bus is to enter the school zone as close to pick-up time as possible to maintain warmth and then shut down.

Each driver shall receive a copy of this policy at the beginning of employment and at the beginning of each school year thereafter.