How to Prepare Your School Buses for Winter Weather

How to Prepare Your School Buses for Winter Weather

Winter weather can be treacherous for all vehicles on the roadways. It can be even more dangerous for school buses that are tasked with getting students to school safely and on-time, even in snowy and icy conditions.

To ensure your fleet’s school buses are operating safely, use these tips during preventative maintenance to ensure your vehicles are prepared:

• Put snow tires on the vehicles. If you do not install winter tires, then make sure the tires have enough tread to provide good traction in various weather conditions.
• Consider installing tire chains, if needed.
• Test the batteries to ensure they can start in frigid conditions.
• Check the windshield wipers to make sure they can clear various types of precipitation. If they cannot, then install new ones.
• Make sure the lights are working properly.
• Check the antifreeze levels.
• Use anti-fog products on interior windows and mirrors.
• Use moisture repellent on outside glass surfaces to prevent snow and ice from sticking to them.
• Keep items on the bus to provide traction in an emergency situation.
• Consider installing winter components like sand and gravel dispensers to help with icy streets.

In addition to taking winter precautions during preventative maintenance services, it’s also important for fleet drivers to perform specific tasks during pre-trip vehicle inspections. These tasks can include:

• Remove snow and ice from the windows, mirrors, lights, and stop-arms.
• Make sure the heater and defroster are working properly.
• Check the tire pressure to make sure the tires are properly inflated.
• Check the fuel levels. The fuel should be as close to full as possible to prevent the fuel from freezing.
• Watch the weather reports and plan ahead to make sure you know what conditions to expect.