School Bus Acceleration Characteristics

Research was conducted to collect speed, time, and distance data for Type C and D ("full size") school buses accelerating from a stopped position. Most of the tests were conducted on level terrain. By combining the knowledge of how quickly a school bus can accelerate with assumed speeds of oncoming through-street vehicles, the needed intersection sight distance can be calculated. Another application of the findings is analyzing departure sight distance at railroad grade crossings used by school buses.