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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State Rep.
Josh Shapiro |
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New state policy urged by Shapiro to protect students now in effect
ABINGTON, July 27 – State Rep. Josh Shapiro, D-Montgomery, announced today that the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has finalized its changes to the driver record check system to make all accident information available to school districts before hiring school bus drivers.
This change comes in response to Shapiro’s direct request to Secretary Allen D. Biehler after the Feb. 17 accident where Frederick Poust III, a school bus driver for the Perkiomen Valley School District, struck and killed a driver while operating his school bus. Poust obtained a Commercial Driver’s License and was hired by the school district notwithstanding the fact that he had been involved in another fatal accident in 1999 where, distracted by his hand-held cell phone, Poust drove through a stop sign and into an oncoming car, killing 2-year-old Morgan Lee Pena.
"I am pleased that PennDOT has implemented this necessary change ahead of schedule and before the start of the school year," Shapiro said. "After learning of this horrible accident, I called Secretary Biehler and worked with PennDOT to change their regulations. Without this information, it is virtually impossible for a school district to effectively assess any application to hire qualified men and women to drive our children to school each and every day."
Effective immediately, PennDOT has expanded the driver record to include the severity of the crash and will be categorized as: fatal, indicating that at least one person was killed in the crash; injury, indicating at least one person was injured in the crash; or property, indicating no one was injured, only property was damaged. The records will not indicate the individual at fault for the accident, but will allow a school district or school bus company to contact the potential new driver for additional information about the accident.
PennDOT has also modified the amount of driver history provided to employers of commercial drivers. Employers of commercial drivers will automatically be given a complete driving history through the PennDOT electronic service channel, rather than only a 10-year history, as was previously provided.
Shapiro announced this policy change in March. He was joined at the time by Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman and Abington School Superintendent Dr. Amy Sichel.
"There is nothing more important than the safety of our children," District Attorney Ferman said. "If information is available to help school districts make sound decisions about the people who transport our kids, then the school districts simply must have that information. This change will ensure that school districts have access to critical background information about the driving history of those individuals who seek to work behind the wheels of school buses."
"This new policy provides another layer of crucial protection for our children when hiring bus drivers," Dr. Sichel said. "Releasing a full driving record to school districts or to bus contractors who provide drivers to school districts is extremely important. This will benefit school districts across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania."
Shapiro represents the 153rd Legislative District in Montgomery County. For more information, visit www.pahouse.com/Shapiro.
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