School bus officials, transportation directors, mechanics, and other student transportation employees from across the state gathered in Des Moines from July 15 to 17 to attend the Iowa Pupil Transportation Association’s annual conference.
PHOTOS: Iowa Pupil Transportation Association Conference
Students from Mitchellville Elementary School in the Southeast Polk Community School District demonstrate a school bus evacuation drill for attendees. Photo courtesy Iowa Department of Education
Pictured here: A school bus involved in a crash demonstration. Photo courtesy Iowa Department of Education
The bus comes to rest at the end of the demonstration. Photo courtesy Iowa Department of Education
Members of the Saylor Township Fire Department examine the crash demonstration scene. Photo courtesy Iowa Department of Education
A child-size crash test dummy that was not wearing a lap-shoulder belt was thrown from the bus seat during the demonstration. Photo courtesy Iowa Department of Education
Students from Mitchellville Elementary in the Southeast Polk Community School District, who had participated in a school bus evacuation drill demonstration, investigate some of the damage that occurred during the bus crash demonstration. Photo courtesy Iowa Department of Education
Shown here is a front axle that was torn from the bus during the crash demonstration. Photo courtesy Iowa Department of Education
The 56th annual Iowa Pupil Transportation Association (IPTA) conference drew a total of 235 attendees. Attendees heard from a variety of experts including authors, accident investigators, and experts on federal and state laws. They also reviewed bus crash test data and video, and viewed demonstrations of disc brakes, evacuation drills, and school bus crashes. Shown here, attendees prepare to watch a school bus crash demonstration. Photo courtesy April Darling
Child-size crash test dummies are placed on a bus as part of a school bus crash demonstration. The dummies are connected to electronic devices that will gather footage and data pertaining to the interior of the bus during a crash. Photo courtesy Iowa Department of Education
Pictured here is one of many remote control devices used to coordinate a school bus crash demonstration. Photo courtesy Iowa Department of Education
A child-size crash test dummy inside a lap-shoulder belt following the crash demonstration. Photo courtesy Iowa Department of Education
Pictured here is damage done to a car during a live demonstration of a T-bone crash with a school bus. Photo courtesy April Darling