Policy 3543.1 - Inclement Weather and Adverse Driving Conditions

Inclement Weather and Adverse Driving Conditions

The Board of Education is authorized by Vehicle Code 3451.6 to adopt procedures that limit the operation of school buses when atmospheric conditions reduce visibility on the roadway to 200 feet or less during regular home-to-school transportation service. Operational policies for bus drivers for school activity trips shall have the authority to discontinue bus operation whenever they determine that it is unsafe to continue operations because of reduced visibility. If at anytime, regularly scheduled bus routes and special trips may be delayed or cancelled because of either adverse or unsafe driving conditions, the decision to operate must be based upon safety factors, welfare of students and information reported by Transportation Staff to the Transportation Director.

Rule 3543.1

Inclement Weather and Adverse Driving Conditions

In the event of extremely hazardous conditions such as flooding, high winds, or reduced visibility due to heavy fog conditions over a major portion of the District, the following will occur:

The decision to delay or cancel the operating of all school buses for schools operated by the District will be based upon what conditions are in the area. Because the majority of bus drivers travel through the Lodi/Stockton area, the decision to delay the operating of all school buses will apply to all Lodi Unified School District Schools. This universal application will be made in the interest of the safety of children.

A decision to delay all schools in the district up to two hours or canceling all bussing would be made only upon the recommendation of the Director of Transportation or his/her designee, to the Superintendent or his/her designee. In the event of such a decision, a general announcement over local TV and radio stations (see TV and radio stations listings) will be made ordering the delay or cancellation of bussing. Extreme weather conditions may warrant such notification to be made the day before complete closing of schools.

Students and parents should be instructed that all school busses will operate on a regular schedule unless they are notified otherwise. They should be instructed to listen to the designated radio stations on those mornings when fog conditions indicate the possibility of school being closed or delayed.

Once a bus route has been started, it is the specific responsibility of each driver to determine whether or not conditions will permit the continued safe operation of the assigned route. The driver shall use the fog chart to determine visibility at certain speeds to make the decision.

If in the opinion of the bus driver, conditions are so hazardous that the safe operation of the bus route is not possible, the driver shall notify one of the following people:

1. Dispatcher
2. Operations Supervisor
3. Director of Transportation

There will be no announcement over local TV and radio stations for the delay of individual routes.