The Commercial Truck and Bus Safety Synthesis Program (CTBSSP) announced it is seeking new topics for its 2011 program sponsored by FMCSA.

The CTBSSP, administered by the Transportation Research Board, was authorized in late 2001 and began in 2002 in support of the FMCSA’s safety research programs.

Last year, CTBSSP authored its Synthesis 17 report that documented "Special Safety Concerns of the School Bus Industry." A literature review and survey of the industry on school bus safety issues uncovered that motorists who illegally pass stopped school buses was the most-frequently cited challenge to school bus operations nationwide. Synthesis 17 covered all aspects of student transportation operations, including bus drivers, environment, equipment/technology, and organizational design.

Other issues of note in the report were the high turn-over rate of bus drivers, driver fitness and physicals, distracted driving, low driver pay, and the myriad behavioral issues of children that bus drivers must contend with on the route.

Criteria for the 2011 program includes answering four key questions:

• Does the topic address an issue that is widespread and of general interest?
• Is the topic timely and critical?
• Is there sufficient information on the topic to warrant synthesizing what has been learned and written?
• Is there other ongoing or recently completed research on the subject?