Adverse Weather and Mountain Driving

This section includes information on adverse weather conditions, driving techniques, and information pertinent to school transportation vehicle driving in all weather conditions experienced in Colorado. Becoming aware of the effects of the conditions will provide the understanding required to respond correctly. Should you slow down, pull over, or decide to reschedule? Safety must be the driver’s primary concern. 

Weather conditions can be unpredictable, placing additional demands on the vehicle and operator. Always be prepared for winter roads and adjust your speed to match the existing conditions. Drive according to highway and weather conditions. Some bridges and overpasses in Colorado are heated or equipped with de-icing sprayers, which can create an abrupt change in road conditions. Scan ahead and remain aware of these locations. In winter, particularly in bad weather, stopping on a slippery road takes more time. To prevent sudden braking, maintaining ample space between the bus and the vehicle in front is crucial. A useful recommendation for safe spacing in these circumstances is to apply the “four to five-second rule" and double it. Be cautious; snow on the road can be slippery, drifting, or compacted. It may also appear smooth, soft, rutted, or slick. A slick track forms when traffic compresses the snow enough to create icy conditions. Since the bus usually tracks wider than the vehicles that created the hard pack, ruts, or slick tracks, controlling it may become challenging. Instead of allowing the bus to sway between the narrow tracks or ruts, adjust your lane position to travel over the untracked snow within the lane. Driving on the untracked areas will help you maintain both speed and steering control. Wet snow can create slushy roads. Heavy slush can accumulate in the vehicle wheel wells and impact steering. Remember to look ahead to identify hazards early enough to respond. 

Three key elements to safe winter driving are:

• Stay alert
• Slow down
• Stay in control

Mountain driving presents unique problems and situations that require greater attention to the same driving skills and expertise expected of all operators of school buses and small vehicles. Other hazards include high winds, sightseeing motorists and bicyclists. The margin for error is reduced and minor mistakes can develop into major problems.

On and after July 1, 1992, the driver of any school vehicle as defined in section 42-1-102 (88.5) owned or operated by or for any school district in this state shall have successfully completed training, approved by the department of education, concerning driving on mountainous terrain, as defined in section 42- 4-1901 (3) (a), and driving in adverse weather.