TSA agents visit Flagler County school bus drivers in surprise inspection
Flagler County schools bus drivers got a surprise inspection from the Transportation Security Administration as part of the federal agency ’ s Security Enhancement Through Assessment ( SETA ) program . TSA agents were invited to the school by Dontarrious Rowls , the district ’ s transportation director . Rowls used the program in a previous position and spent the last several months preparing to implement the safety-training program in Flagler . Unaware of the planned inspection , Flagler bus drivers discovered unattended bags in their buses early on Wednesday morning as they prepared to roll out . The point of the surprise inspection was to see how the drivers would react and what steps they would take to secure the safety of the vehicle and children .
“ We ’ ve never done this before , but some of the feedback I got from the drivers was good ,” Rowls said , even as a few got a bit nervous during the exercise . A supervisor was in place to reassure them .” According to the TSA , the SETA program is a “ no-cost , collaborative , voluntary program that is designed to evaluate and improve a surface transportation stakeholder ’ s vehicle inspection procedures . A tactical level assessment , SETA consists of covertly placing unattended bags on multiple vehicles simultaneously to simulate a coordinated terrorist attack .” The TSA ’ s program involves several steps , beginning with the surprise inspection and observation of drivers . Phase two entails TSA inspectors providing briefings and security training on how the department can improve , what it ’ s doing well ( and should keep doing ), and other protocols it could consider . That will take place later this summer . Phase three is a re-assessment : another chance for the inspectors to see whether the department is implementing recommendations and ensuring that employees are abiding by them .
“ Safety is my number one priority , because we can ’ t be prepared enough when it comes to transporting our future and transporting our precious cargo ,” Rowls said .
ROUSH CleanTech and Blue Bird first to achieve certification to 2022 Heavy Duty Refueling Standard
All Blue Bird propane and gasoline school buses have received Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board certification for the 2022 heavy duty refueling standard , significantly reducing emissions from escaping the tank during refueling . On gasoline fuel systems , Environmental Protection Agency tests show that the new refueling emissions regulations can reduce harmful emissions by up to 93 percent . “ Blue Bird is the first school bus manufacturer to receive this emissions-reducing certification for a gasoline-powered bus , thanks to our strong partnership with ROUSH CleanTech ,” said Jeff Sanfrey , senior vice president of engineering for Blue Bird Corporation . “ The new refueling emissions standard compliance is excellent news for the environment , our customers and communities across America .” For propane buses , the requirement is met by using a low-emissions quick-connect fill valve , which limits fuel vapors in the atmosphere . For gasoline buses , the requirement is met by implementation of an onboard refueling vapor recovery ( ORVR ) system . ORVR is a vehicle emission control system that collects fuel vapor generated during a vehicle ’ s refueling process . ORVR helps reduce harmful emissions like volatile organic compounds from escaping the tank . An on-board carbon / vapor canister captures and stores the fuel vapors . Stored fuel vapors are then consumed by the engine during combustion . “ Our cost-efficient , advanced vehicle solutions for the school bus market just got even cleaner with the new refueling emissions compliancy ,” said Todd Mouw , executive vice president of sales and marketing for ROUSH CleanTech . “ Every child deserves to have a safe , clean , healthy ride to school , and we will keep innovating with the latest technologies to reduce harmful emissions .” In the past decade , Blue Bird has sold nearly 30,000 school buses with ROUSH CleanTech fuel systems . This is the second emission-reducing certification ROUSH CleanTech has achieved on its Ford 7.3L V8 engine . Earlier this year , California Air Resources Board certified ROUSH CleanTech ’ s propane engine in Blue Bird buses to the optional ultra-low nitrogen oxides of 0.02g for 2022 model year and beyond , making it 90 percent cleaner than today ’ s national emissions requirements .
KVOA : School bus driver saves 40 students from fire in Florida
A Florida school bus driver is credited for saving 40 young students after their bus caught fire on Tuesday , May 3 . Imagine Schools at West Melbourne , Florida , said if not for the driver ' s quick actions , things could have been a lot worse . According to Imagine Schools , driver Janet O ' Connell saw the smoke coming from the hood of the vehicle just ten minutes along her route after dismissal when she stopped and began removing the children from the bus .
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