• As presented at our recent partners meeting, FMVSS 571.111 has been updated to require a rear view camera system to be installed on any vehicle 10,000 lbs. or less GVWR with a final production date on or after 05/01/18. The image screen is required to shut off when the vehicle is not in reverse gear within 10 seconds or 10 mph or 10 meters as set by the manufacturer. 
  
  
• We congratulate Senator Carl Marcellino (R-Syosset) and Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo (D-Binghamton) on passage of the legislation that would expand and enhance drug and alcohol testing of school bus drivers in New York State!
  
  The legislation (A208E/S2587E), which was introduced the first time in 2014, would require the inclusion of all school bus drivers for random drug and alcohol testing, regardless of school bus size or commercial license endorsement.  Simply put, the bill would add Class C drivers to the random testing pool in addition to those already included for drug and alcohol tests.  The bill would also increase the prohibited time for consumption of alcohol before driving a school bus from 6 hours to 8 hours.
  
  All expenses incurred for this expansion of the testing would be aidable under Transportation Aid in the Education Law.
  
  He recently noted that he would also appoint Heidi King to serve as the new Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  King currently serves as the Deputy Administrator of the agency which has been without a leader since January 2017 when Mark Rosekind stepped down.  King has earlier served in the US Office of Management and Budget under three presidents and has a personal experience as an EMT in New Jersey, giving her insights into accidents and accident investigations.

For your planning and scheduling, here are some key dates for the 2018-2019 school calendar year!

   • October 22-26, 2018           School Bus Safety Week
   • February 21-22, 2019         Winter Workshop
   • April 25, 2019            Operation Safe Stop Day
   • May 20-24, 2019       School Transportation Appreciation Week
   • July 14-17, 2019        Annual Conference

Keep these dates in mind for your staff training, promotion of school bus safety and parent involvement!  This is how we keep the public informed and excited about the great work we all do!