An employee who loses his/her driver's license while employed in a position requiring the operation of a motor vehicle leased or titled to the Guilford County Schools may be considered for positions that do not require the operation of a motor vehicle. If no position for which the employee is qualified is available, termination or suspension without pay and benefits will result. The action to be taken will be determined by the superintendent or designee.
The employee will inform his/her supervisor of his/her loss of license and/or receipt of traffic citations immediately but not later than prior to the employee's next scheduled work shift. The supervisor will make a recommendation to Human Resources regarding continued employment when an employee's driving record causes the supervisor concern for the property, students and employees of the Guilford County Schools.
PURPOSE: To provide procedures for motor vehicle accident reporting requirements to comply with applicable state and federal guidelines as well as the intent of the foregoing policy.
APPLICATION: This process applies to all school bus drivers, activity bus drivers and all Category "A" employees. A Category "A" employee is one who drives a GCS system owned vehicle (whether or not he/she possess a commercial driver license {CDL}) in the course of their employment.
PROCEDURES: In the event of a motor vehicle accident involving a school bus, activity bus or GCS system owned vehicle, the driver will take the following actions:
A. STOP IMMEDIATELY. Vehicle will not be moved from the position of the accident except at the direction of the investigating law enforcement officer or, a senior Transportation Department Supervisor.
B. For school and activity buses: evacuate the bus only if necessary to protect passengers.
C. Check each passenger and render first aid as necessary.
D. Notify proper authorities.
1. Call or request anyone who renders assistance to call 911 for emergency medical services and law enforcement assistance.
2. Provide or instruct your assistant to provide the concise location of the accident scene and a preliminary assessment of potential injuries.
3. Contact or request someone contact the Transportation Department by radio or, by telephone at 370-8920. If driving a school or activity bus, provide the name of the school(s) to/from which you are transporting students. This report, if by telephone, should describe personal, student and others injured.
4. For accidents involving school and activity buses, also contact or request someone contact the appropriate Zone Transportation Supervisor by radio or telephone.
5. Be prepared to present driver's license and registration information to the investigating law enforcement officer.
6. Do not release students/passengers on buses, even to their parents, until all information is obtained and release has been approved by the law enforcement officer and/or the representative of the school principal.
7. Do not discuss the details of the accident with anyone except the investigating law enforcement officer, your immediate supervisor or the on-scene Transportation Department Supervisor.
E. Report ALL accidents, regardless of location and regardless of personal injury and/or property damage.
1. Do not leave the scene of the accident until cleared to do so by the investigating law enforcement officer or, a senior Transportation Department Supervisor.
2. All accidents involving $1000 or more property damage or, an injury, must be investigated by the appropriate law enforcement agency.
F. Mandatory post accident alcohol and drug testing is required under the following conditions:
1. Under the provisions of the Omnibus Transportation Act, a school or activity bus driver, or any other GCS employee who requires a CDL to operate their GCS assigned vehicle and who was involved in an accident while driving a GCS owned vehicle must be drug/alcohol tested if there is a fatality or, if issued a citation.
2. In addition, GCS Board Of Education policy mandates drug/alcohol testing, regardless of fault determination, for a school bus driver, an activity bus driver or any other Category "A" employee who was driving the vehicle involved in the accident if there was an injury and/or property damage is $500 or higher.
3. If the accident meets the above criteria, the GCS employee must submit to and complete alcohol testing within two hours of the accident.
4. If the accident meets the above criteria, the GCS employee must submit to and complete drug testing within 32 hours of the accident.
5. Failure to consent or, complete an alcohol or drug test within the required time limit is considered a positive test result. The GCS employee will be referred to the Personnel Department for appropriate disciplinary action.
G. Any GCS employee covered by this policy who is charged with or arrested for any violation(s) of a law, traffic vehicular law or, ordinance, must report such fact in writing to the administrator in charge of the department, office, or school to which the GCS employee is assigned no later than the next scheduled business day. Such report shall include all pertinent facts concerning the alleged violations.
H. It is the employee's responsibility to keep his/her administrator advised
of the judicial process in the matter. Upon completion of judicial action
the employee must report the disposition and pertinent facts, in writing,
to the same administrator no later than the next scheduled business
day following the judge or magistrate's decision.
I. The respective Zone Transportation Supervisors will assist the Route Operations and Compliance Supervisor with the investigation and in obtaining the necessary reporting information subsequent to the accident to complete the TD-25 accident report for all school bus accidents resulting in tort action.
J. The GCS employee's immediate supervisor must assist the GCS Risk Manager in obtaining the necessary information and reports to complete the insurance claim documentation.
NOTE: This policy replaces and revises the former Board Policy GAMB and appends a former operating process.
