Times Advocate, 1999-11-17, Page 212284140
Exeter Times Advocate
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Wednesday, November 17, 1999
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Ogden's the name, bus safety's the game
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Mr. bus driver. Laidlaw Education Services Exeter area branch manager Ken Ogden has been ensuring the safety of South Huron students on buses for I5 years.
(photo/Craig Bradford)
By Craig Bradford
MRS -ADVOCATE STAFF
EXETER Parents can thank Ken Ogden for their
children's safe school bus rides to and from' school. .
They can also thank Laidlaw Education Services' 35
school bus drivers and Laidlaw Exeter branch mechanic
Gord Phillips. '
But it's branch manager Ogden, 66, that -oversees the
Daily operation of the branch's 28 school bus routes
that weave their way to and from Exeter throughout
South Huron and beyond.
With Laidlaw since 1971 and in charge of the Exeter
branch since 1984, Ogden starts his day before the sun
even thinks of breaking the horizon during the winter
months. That means road checks throughout Usborne,
Stephen and Hay townships starting at 4:30 a.m. when
there's a hint of inclement weather in the air. During
the balmier school months, Ogden is always up around
5:30 a.m. to make sure the day starts on the right foot
for the 1,278 children Laidlaw bus drivers transport
each school day.
"I'm the one who makes the decision if the buses
go, it
they stay in the yard or if they are delayed," he said.
If it's a 'normal' day, meaning no weather related
delays, Ogden then visits area schools to check out any
complaints o
is abo
utun
unruly
students and to see if there are •,
any field
trips ps or school sports away games Laidlaw
buses are needed for.
After the
school
check
it's paperwork time.
"There's
always something on the go," Ogden said.
At
the beginning
n
a d end
of
each school day Ogden
can be found hanging out at South Huron District High
School to make sure the childrenet on the ht bus.
Ogden is also the one that books buses for school trips
and
public c
h
anter
sfor
community ty
groups sand busi-
nesses. While
most of
the bus travel for the Exeter
branch consists of the routes through South Huron, reg-
ular a bus traffic
also
goes into McGillivray
Townshi and
the Grand Bend area to service the Avon Maitland
School Board and the Huron -Perth Rbtnan Catholic
School Board. Those schools include Usborne Central,
Precious Blood, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, McCurdy
and South
Huron District High
School. Laidlaw also
looks after the south end of the county for Clinton St.
Anne's High School and does some transportation for
Exeter Public
School (most if not all its students live in
Exeter). Stephen Central has its own school board
buses.
Laidlaw buses also venture out of the service area to
take school sports teams on the road. Ogden gave spe-
cial mention to the high school wrestling team that will
head to competitions as far away as Beamsville and
Hagersville this season.
While he doesn't get behind of the steering wheel
often, Ogden keeps up, with all the new safety measures
that come down the pipe like the Child Check -Mate
System (see sidebar) and those strobe lights on the back
of Laidlaw 'buses that have done much to heighten
motorist and pedestrian awareness that there is a
school bus in the area. The strobe lights were installed
on all Laidlaw buses at the beginning of this school
year.
"They're really effective especially in winter -time and
in fog," Ogden said.
Other developments over the years to increase school
bus safety include the eight -foot crossing gate bar to
help guide children across roads, the highly visible red
stop sign and flashing lights and a on -board camera so
--the bus driver and school officials C fi see just what
happens behind the driver's back. Each bus also has a
two-way radio so the driver can contact Ogden at the
office and vice -versa.
Parents and their children are initiated to the bus
experience with the First Ride Program that has the
families ride the bus together the 'June before the first
day of class to find out all the rules.
Earlier this month area schools participated in bus
evacuations, a joint program between the OPP and
Laidlaw.
On the admirtistration side, Ogden along with the
other interested parties attend five safety meetings a
year.
Drivers especially
get the 'safety is paramount' treat-
ment. Each driver must complete 35 hours of training
before they get their special licence and drive a route for
the first time. Twenty of those hours are in "in -shop"
P
including videos on bus safety. The other' 15 hours con-
sist of behind the wheel training.
Before they head out on their routes, each driver must
make a 'circle check' of the bus to make sure everything
is alright with the bus before • it leaves the yard. Ogden
said vehicle maintenance is "the top priority" in
Laidlaw.
Ultimately a Iy the safety of children on the bus lies .ln . the
hands of the driver.
"The only 8
bi
thin I'm concerned cern
ed abou
g
about is if the dri-
vers aren't careful and there's an accident," Ogden said.
The Exeter area Laidlaw branch has an exemplary
safety record with no serious injuries or accidents.
"We've been very fortunate," Ogden admits. "We're
going on our third year accident -free. There's nothing
worse than an accident."
Perils on Huron County roadways include Huron
County's famous heavy winter squalls off the lake, black
ice and fog. Ogden said his drivers have navigated those
natural problems well.
"I have to give the drivers a lot of credit for doing their
jobs and following up properly," he said.
Other driver worries could include other motorists and
the children themselves, but Ogden was quick to point
out there are few motorist incidents and not man
problems with the children. If a motorist does disregard
the bus stop sign and lights or does something else that
poses a danger to children, the driver tries to get the
licence plate of the vehicle and the OPP is brought in to
take over the investigation. If a child misbehaves on the
bus the school principal • or other school disciplinarian
takes over since the bus is treated as an extension of the
classroom.
Although past the age most people retire at, Ogden
has no plans to call it quits with Laidlaw.
"Oh, sooner or later," he mused about retirement.
When asked what keeps him' getting up before the
rooster crows each morning, Ogden shrugged.
"It's just in your blood to be here," he said. "It's trying
to make things go' right."
Liking children helps: Although he has never married
and had children of his own, Ogden is obviously fond of
his young charges.
"If you don't like lads,: you might as well get out of it,``
Ogden said Of bps driving. "The little boppers are quite
interesting."
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