TRANSPORTATION HANDBOOK 2024-25
INTRODUCTION
In 2022, The Branson School was permitted to amend its Conditional Use Permit (CUP), which allows Branson to operate as a school in the Town of Ross The amendment permits Branson to grow its enrollment from 320 to 420 students over a 4-year period In consideration for that growth, Branson must now comply with traffic and parking regulations that apply to all community members, or the school could face severe penalties, including losing the next cohort of 25 additional students, enrollment rollbacks, and/or fines of $100,000 per infraction.
Linked to this handbook and incorporated by reference is the Branson Transportation Demand Management Plan (TDMP) that must be followed by all constituents, including students, employees, parents, and visitors. Failure to follow the terms of this handbook and the rules in the TDMP may result in citations; fines; and/or the immediate loss of parking, drop-off, and/or pick-up privileges at the discretion of Branson’s transportation and parking team. Unless otherwise stated, the rules in this document and the TDMP apply 7 days per week throughout the entire school year, including weekends
Branson is grateful for its beautiful and bucolic location in the heart of Ross For over 100 years the school has maintained a strong and positive relationship with the Town of Ross, working closely with the Town Council and local agencies to address issues as they arise It is important to understand that our neighbors have concerns about the impact of vehicular traffic on the community Their concerns focus on safety, noise, and disruption to this ordinarily quiet community We encourage neighbors to report any inappropriate driving behavior directly to Branson
Branson also emphasizes the importance of modeling sustainable environmental practices As part of this commitment, the school continues to explore commuting and travel alternatives that reduce the number of vehicles traveling to and from the school. The school encourages the use of private and public buses, carpooling, biking, and walking whenever possible. The school strongly discourages parent drop-offs and single-driver vehicles. Students residing within two miles of Branson are asked to walk or to ride their bikes to and from the campus, weather permitting, and will not be eligible to be counted as a carpool participant. Bike racks are provided on campus
SAFETY
Our primary responsibility and concern is for the safety of our Branson community, including
all those who may visit our campus and all Ross residents As such, any unsafe behavior witnessed by any community member should be immediately reported to the transportation team (transportation@branson org) Those driving to, from, or on campus in an unsafe manner by any method (e g , car, bike, e-bike, scooter, skateboard) will be issued a citation, fine, and/or may lose parking, drop-off and/or pick-up privileges for a period of time or permanently Failing to follow all Branson and Ross rules and not using reasonable common sense when driving may result in the loss of privileges at the discretion of the transportation team.
Further, California law requires that anyone aged 18 and under operating a bicycle, scooter or skateboard, or using roller skates, must wear a bicycle helmet. Failure to wear a helmet in accordance with California law is a violation of this handbook and may result in a citation, fine, or the loss of other privileges
REQUIREMENTS TO ACCESS CAMPUS
To be eligible to purchase a parking permit for the main campus or any Branson remote parking lot, or to be permitted to drop off or pick up students or visitors at or near campus, all employees, students, volunteers, and parents must (1) register their vehicle(s) in Branson’s parking and transportation system (Rydin) and (2) sign or e-sign that they have read and understand and will comply with all of the rules and regulations contained in this handbook and the Branson TDMP
TRAFFIC LAWS AND BRANSON RULES
All employees, students, volunteers, and parents, whether parking on campus or at a remote lot, must follow all California, Town of Ross, Marin County and Branson School laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations.
ON-CAMPUS PARKING, SATELLITE PARKING, AND CARPOOLS
Only full-time employees and licensed eleventh and twelfth grade students are eligible to apply for on-campus parking. Sophomores with a valid license can apply for satellite parking lots but juniors and seniors have priority so spots are not guaranteed.
An overarching objective is to reduce traffic in Ross and the number of cars coming to campus on a daily basis We strongly encourage carpooling, cycling, walking, and taking a bus or shuttle
to campus A carpool is defined as a driver plus one to three riders (and more than three with parental and school permission)
Branson does not manage assigning carpool riders to carpools; families must coordinate their own carpool arrangements Parents can email the transportation team (transportation@branson org), and Branson will provide contact information for targeted zip codes, but the school assumes no liability for carpool ridership
On-campus parking permits will be issued in priority order to full-time employees and then to student carpools (and solo drivers, but only when a compelling reason is provided and space permits). Priority on-campus parking spots will be given to the drivers of carpools based on a “total mileage factor” that includes seniority, the number of passengers (including the driver), and mileage, as follows:
● Senior class drivers will have priority in the carpool permit assignment process
● Carpools with a senior class driver have top priority according to the total combined number of miles for each carpool rider (not including a driver’s sibling) from their home to Branson or from a common pick-up point.
● This will become the “Total Mileage Factor” for each carpool, totaled as the number of points for the entire carpool group (not including mileage for the driver’s sibling at the same home)
● An additional 7 points will be added for each freshman rider in the carpool, with 4 points for each sophomore, and 3 points for each junior and senior We are incentivizing the students who need carpooling the most
● After all senior carpools have been assigned, junior class drivers have priority according to the same set of rules above
● Once all carpools have been assigned, single-vehicle drivers may be considered for campus parking permits (also in priority order, i e , seniors, then juniors), but solo drivers are only eligible for a campus parking permit once all carpools have been assigned and only with a compelling reason (e.g., health reason as documented by a treating physician) that has been approved by the Head of School, Director of Operations, or the CFOO. Based on availability, solo drivers will have access to one of three lots: St. Anselm’s, Redlands, or College of Marin (COM).
● Carpool drivers must notify the Director of Operations of any rider changes at any time during the year within 24 hours of the change. Changes in ridership in a carpool may result in a change in parking location and assignment. Failure to notify the transportation team of a ridership change within 24 hours may result in a loss of
parking privileges
● Please note: Driving a carpool is a tremendous responsibility as families are relying on drivers to get students to school on time and in a safe manner Drivers who are not meeting the needs of other families could have on-campus parking revoked
Total Mileage Factor Carpool Example:
Pursuant to the above rules, if a senior carpool driver from 15 miles away (based on home address) plans to drive a younger freshman sibling and 2 other riders (a junior who lives 10 miles away and a freshman who lives 5 miles away), the Total Mileage Factor for this carpool would be 45, as follows:
● Senior: 3 + 15 miles = 18
● Sibling: 7 + 0 miles = 7
● Junior: 3 + 10 miles = 13
● Freshman: 7 + 5 miles = 12
● Total = 18 + 7 + 13 + 12 = 50
Also note:
● Per the California probationary license law, students may not drive passengers under the age of 20 until they have held a drivers’ license for one year. Exceptions may be made when driving siblings (not other students) with written parental and school permission
● Students whose probationary license will end on or before October 1, 2024 may still apply for a carpool permit Please note, you can not drive your carpool before your probationary license expires
Students who can walk or bike to campus within a 2 0-mile radius of campus are not eligible to be counted as carpool participants Students who live in Ross, St Anselmo, and Kentfield or who live within a 2 0 mile radius may join carpools, but they will not be counted for the Total Mileage Factor purposes in allocating carpool permits
Parking permits for all Branson-authorized lots are issued to those students and employees who submit a completed parking application. Incomplete applications or registrations in our application portals will not be considered. Certain satellite lots may be available to licensed eleventh and twelfth grade student drivers regardless of the number of riders in the car. Sophomores can apply for satellite lots (College of Marin, The Redlands, and St. Anselm’s) but
would only receive permits if there is availability after all juniors and seniors have been placed
By applying for and receiving a Branson-issued parking permit, you are agreeing to abide by the rules detailed in this handbook and the TDMP Direct any questions or concerns regarding these guidelines to the transportation team at transportation@branson org
Branson reserves the right to revise, change, and alter parking and transportation rules at any time during the year in the best interests of the school and the community This includes the right to change parking assignments (including to offsite parking lots) when necessary at the sole discretion of the transportation team. The transportation team will notify the Branson community of any changes to this handbook.
Permit Application Process
● Only parking applications completed by the stated deadline will be processed and accepted
● Once the parking (and carpool) applications are received and processed, employees and students will be notified of their parking assignments They will receive parking permit tags before school starts in August
● Swapping or trading parking permits or assigned spots is not permitted without the written approval of a member of the transportation team
Alternative Parking Options
● Those who do not wish to park in a Branson parking lot are encouraged to park on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard near the corner of Bolinas Ave and take the St Anselm shuttle to campus each day.
● It is forbidden to shuttle other students to and from the St. Anselm parking lot or near that lot, as Branson operates its own shuttles for this purpose. Giving rides causes traffic jams and delays, is unsafe and causes friction with the neighbors.
● Students are not permitted to park on local streets around Branson at any time. The restricted streets include but are not limited to: Fernhill, Glenwood, Waverly, Norwood, Hillgirt, Austin, Shady Lane, Vineyard, and Bolinas.
○ If a student has permission to park on the property of a nearby homeowner, that student's car must be parked in the property’s driveway or behind a gate on the property and not on the street in front of that property There are no exceptions to this policy
○ Students should expect that Branson’s neighbors will report vehicles parked on the restricted side streets
Faculty/Staff Parking Stipend
Faculty/staff members may elect to give up their on-campus parking spot for the year and receive a $1,000 stipend This stipend will be paid in two installments, one in the winter and one in the spring The Director of Operations will send out a form in August to identify all faculty and staff that would like to participate in this program.
Daily Trip Restrictions
Student drivers who are issued campus permits may only enter the campus once per day and exit once per day. This number may change when Senior Privileges are obtained. The Transportation Team and Senior Dean will communicate this information when it is available.
Compliance and Violations
● Student carpools will be monitored regularly for compliance, and violations of the rules in this handbook may result in citations, fines, and/or loss of privileges
● All employees and students must park only in their assigned space If there is someone in that spot, please park temporarily in a visitor space, notify the Library staff, and immediately email transportation@branson org, including a photo of the car and license plate You will be asked to move from the visitor parking space once the blocking car is removed
● Failure to comply fully with all Branson rules in this handbook, carpool guidelines, and Town of Ross traffic rules may result in the immediate loss of campus parking privileges
Other Issues to Remember
● Only employees and students with an assigned, on-campus parking spot and a clearly displayed parking sticker and current parking permit are allowed to drive to and park on campus during the school day.
● Branson observes the provisions of California's Graduated Licensing Bill Therefore, students are not able to create a carpool of non-siblings until they have had their license for at least 12 months
● If on any given day student carpool drivers are unable to drive their riders to school, they must notify their riders as soon as possible so that the riders can arrange alternative transportation
ANNUAL PARKING FEES
No. of Riders On-Campus St. Anselm Lot Univ. of Redlands (URS*) and College of Marin Lots
*Note: URS is the University of Redlands’ Seminary in San Anselmo, which is walking distance to campus Please use this map for reference
NO CAMPUS DROP-OFFS AND/OR PICK-UPS DURING CERTAIN TIMES
It is important that we make every effort to reduce the number of cars traveling to and from our campus One way to do this is to lessen the impact of morning and afternoon drop-offs and pick-ups All parents dropping off and/or picking up their students must register their vehicles in the Branson online parking system, Rydin This is mandatory for all vehicles coming to and from campus or dropping off at one of our satellite lots. Even if you are not parking on Branson’s campus, you must register through Rydin.
IMPORTANT: Pursuant to the new CUP amendment rules and TDMP requirements, no employee, student, visitor or parent may be dropped off on or near campus between 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after the beginning of the regular school day at 8:45 am (i.e., between 8:15 and 9:15 am). This rule applies year-round Monday through Friday. Further, no employee, student, visitor or parent may be picked up at or near campus between 30 minutes before and 60 minutes after the end of the regular school day, which is at 3:20 pm on
Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays (i e , between 2:50 and 4:20 pm) and at 2:20 pm on Wednesdays (i e , between 1:50 and 3:20 pm)
These rules will be strictly enforced all year, Monday through Friday, with no exceptions.
Outside of the above times, parents, guardians, and family support staff may drop off or pick up students or employees at the front gate only Those dropping off or picking up students, visitors or employees are prohibited from entering the campus or the back parking lot, even during allowable drop-off and pick-up times.
● During those periods when campus drop-offs and pick-ups are not permitted, parents, guardians, and family support staff may not drop off students or employees on Norwood, Hilgirt, Fernhill Avenue, Glenwood Avenue or Shady Lane, but may drop students at any other nearby location and ideally near St. Anselm’s to take the shuttle.
● For pick-ups during the allowable time frames (see above), students and employees may only be picked up from the front gate; those picking up may not enter the campus to do so
TOWN OF ROSS RULES AND CITATIONS
Branson is a school in a residential neighborhood with streets not designed for heavy traffic, and we must all strive to be good neighbors and safe drivers for the surrounding community The Town of Ross police department regularly patrols the neighborhood and our campus Everyone who drives to and from campus must become familiar with the local Town of Ross rules and regulations, which can be found via the town website (townofross org) and California Highway Patrol and Vehicle Code websites
Below are a few examples of the types of citations and tickets that unsafe drivers may expect from the Town of Ross:
● Speeding: California Vehicle Code or CVC 22350 is the basic speeding violation and will result in a point on your record. The fines are imposed by the courts. For a first offense, the driver may be eligible to attend traffic school to have the fine reduced and not have a point go on the driving record. The second offense would result in a fine that the courts would impose.
● Taking an illegal left turn in Ross between 7 and 9 am from Bolinas onto Shady Lane: Failure to obey a traffic sign (CVC 21461(a)) will result in a point on your
record The fines are imposed by the courts For a first offense, the driver may be eligible to attend traffic school to have the fine reduced and not have a point go on the driving record The second offense would be a fine that the courts would impose
● Someone in a car who hits a cyclist or pedestrian: While there is no “typical punishment” for a vehicle versus a bicyclist/pedestrian collision, the collision would be fully investigated and a cause would be determined. A driver found in violation may be cited for a traffic violation (e.g., speeding, unsafe turning, unsafe backing up, or worse if bodily harm or death results, etc.).
SPEED LIMITS
The speed limit on Branson’s campus is 10 mph We urge you, in the strongest possible terms, to drive responsibly at all times on campus and in the Town of Ross, including when you are traveling to and from the Branson campus Also, keep in mind that the posted 25 mph speed limit in town is strictly enforced by the Ross and San Anselmo police departments To be prudent, all Branson drivers should drive no faster than 20 mph through the Town of Ross
ROUTES TO SCHOOL
There are a number of different ways to get to campus, as any GPS will indicate, but please note that the following rules apply at Branson: Students, parents, faculty, and staff may never use Norwood Avenue as a route to school The traffic hazards on this road severely reduce its capacity to accommodate traffic safely, as compared to other local streets
Glenwood Avenue is a narrow, twisting road with no sidewalks, and extreme caution should be exercised when negotiating it. Also, keep in mind that, while Fernhill Road may appear to be an easier and safer street on which to drive, houses are close to the street, and pedestrians and cyclists often use Fernhill Road There are a number of families with young children who live on each of these streets Extreme caution is advised Do not stop to pick up anyone who is walking on Glenwood or Fernhill Doing so increases the danger and causes traffic to back up
It is illegal to make a left turn onto Shady Lane from Bolinas in the mornings from 7 - 9 am The Ross Police Department and California Highway Patrol frequently post officers near that
intersection to ticket offenders
BRANSON TRAFFIC & PARKING CITATIONS
Students and employees not adhering to the driving and parking policies contained in this handbook will receive parking warnings and citations from Branson These infractions have the following financial penalties:
● The first violation of any rule in this handbook (Citation #1) will result in a $100 fine, which may be waived upon timely receipt of a signed acknowledgement of the violation and commitment not to violate any other handbook, TDMP, and/or Town of Ross rule(s).
● Subsequent violations will result in a $200 fine for each violation of any rule in this handbook over the course of the driver’s time at Branson.
● Parking privileges may be revoked at any time, depending on the severity of the violation and/or pattern of behavior, at the sole discretion of Branson’s transportation team
The total number of citations a student receives during the course of a school year will be factored into determining that student’s future eligibility for a parking space in one of Branson’s lots
SHUTTLE SERVICE AND SMART TRAIN
● Shuttles run between approximately 8:05 am and 8:50 am from the St Anselm parking lot to the campus every day. The shuttles do not stop en route to pick up passengers. Shuttles also run from campus to the St. Anselm parking lot in the afternoon from approximately 3:20 pm to 3:50 pm.
● Shuttles to and from College of Marin (COM) will operate once in the morning (departing at 8:30 am) and once in the afternoon (departing at 3:30 pm). Please refer to the transportation tile on MyBranson or the TripShot app (see below) to confirm shuttle times to and from this location
● Parents, guardians, and family support staff driving one student to school are strongly encouraged to drop off at the St Anselm parking lot during shuttle service times
● Shuttles are not provided to and from the University of Redlands Seminary (URS) parking location
● Only riders of the SMART train may take the Branson shuttle from the SMART station
Parents may not drop off students at the SMART train to catch the shuttle to campus, as that shuttle is specifically for SMART train riders only
BUS SERVICE
We will partner with Phoenix Transportation and continue to provide bus service to southern Marin, San Francisco, and the East Bay Once the final schedule is available, you can access it on the Transportation tile in MyBranson, or check the TripShot app for the current pick-up and drop-off times. Look for TripShot instructions on the MyBranson Transportation tile.
Also, this year we will continue to partner with Marin Academy and other Marin schools on our bus routes to allow for additional pick-up and drop-off options.
All families can use our bus service and will receive an email notification directly from the transportation team to complete an official registration form The registration forms will be sent as soon as the bus company has completed the route schedule There are costs associated with certain bus routes which will be shared on the form
CYCLING AND WALKING RULES AND INCENTIVES
Branson encourages the safe use of bikes, e-bikes, and walking to campus We have three goals in mind for this program First, the health and wellness of our employees and students is paramount Second, we offer incentives for students and employees to reduce their reliance on vehicles and the burden it places on local and campus traffic Finally, we want to do our part in promoting sustainability and hope to encourage sustainable practices
Cycling Rules
All faculty, staff, and students must follow all California safety laws and regulations while riding a bike on campus. In addition to these rules and regulations, all cyclists of any age must wear a helmet while on the Branson campus even if it is not required by California law.
Branson Cycling Incentive
Branson partners with Mike’s Bikes and Sports Basement to offer discounts and incentives for bike and accessory purchases For qualifying Branson employees and students, both vendors will offer a 10% discount off a bike purchased at any of their locations For those shopping at
Sports Basement, you will need to sign up for their “Basementeer” membership, and Branson will reimburse that fee These establishments will also offer financing for the purchase to allow families to fund the cost over time If a family does not qualify for interest-free financing, Branson will allow the family to finance the purchase through the school Branson will also offer monthly on-campus service days to keep the bikes working well
If a full-time employee is willing to give up an on-campus parking permit for two years, Branson will fund the cost of a bike or e-bike up to $2,500 when purchased at a preferred vendor. This bike must be used by the employee for commuting to and from campus for work. Employees who choose this option are not entitled to the $1,000 annual stipend in lieu of a parking permit for those two years. Branson will also offer monthly on-campus service days to keep the e-bike working well.
If a Branson student is willing to commute to and from campus using a bike or an e-bike, Branson will fund up to $850 of the bike purchase and related equipment at either of the preferred vendors This bike must be used by the student for the majority of commuting to and from campus For those students attending Branson on 75% or more financial aid, Branson will purchase the bike or e-bike for the student (to be owned by the student)
Student bike purchases will be reimbursed up to $850 by Branson through our third party payment vendor, Paymerang If for any reason a program participant is unable to pay for the e-bike upfront, they should contact the Business Office for other purchasing options
Faculty and staff who participate in these incentive programs may need to park on campus occasionally during inclement weather. This occasional parking is limited to 5 times per year in the corporation yard (the gravel area off Fernhill adjacent to the tennis courts) with prior approval from the Head of School, CFOO, Director of Campus Services, or Director of Operations. Please email transportation@branson.org by 8:15 am before parking in the corporation yard to let a team member know of the need to park onsite.
PART-TIME EMPLOYEES AND COACHES
In order to reduce traffic to and from campus and to comply with our CUP and TDMP rules, we will manage parking for part-time employees and coaches depending on the time of year and other campus demands All part-time employees and coaches must obtain a Branson-issued parking permit and may be assigned to either a visitor spot or to a remote lot at St Anselm’s or the College of Marin lot and take the shuttle to campus
If part-time employees and coaches need to be on campus, they may enter once and depart once per day If they need to leave campus for any reason, they may not drive back onto campus later the same day Also, if a coach does not need to come to campus because their team practices at COM or another location offsite, they should not drive to campus
VISITORS TO CAMPUS
From time to time, Branson’s employees and students may have visitors to campus, which may include delivery services (e.g., FedEx, UPS, Door Dash, etc.), family members, guest speakers, etc. All faculty and staff should please email Michelle Baumert (michelle baumert@branson.org) and Todd Bickel (todd bickel@branson.org or transportation@branson org) to alert Branson when you will have a visitor on campus All visitors to campus must be pre-authorized by a member of the transportation team and must obtain permission to enter and park on campus FedEx, UPS, Door Dash and similar visitors who are only on campus for a short period of time may not enter the front gates and must drop off all items outside of the front gate There are no exceptions to this rule
SPECIAL EVENTS
Branson has a separate policy for special events and parking and communications related to those events Further, the new CUP Amendments place limitations on outdoor evening events Before planning a special event on campus, please contact transportation@branson.org to determine the specific rules and regulations for that event.
TRANSPORTING STUDENTS FOR BRANSON EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
Students Transporting Students to School Events
All students must sign the Branson School’s Student Transportation Consent and Release form, which is available to families on Magnus This form outlines the rules and assumed risk of transporting students for off campus activities and events Additionally, if a student’s provisional license has not yet expired, they cannot transport any other students to any Branson event, unless those students are their siblings If a student with a provisional license is seen driving other students, they could lose their parking privileges for the current and future years
Parents/Guardians Transporting Students from Campus to School Events
Parents/guardians are an integral part of transporting students for athletics and other events Parents/guardians must also sign the Branson School’s Student Transportation Consent and Release form, available on Magnus
In addition, if parents/guardians are going to regularly transport students from the Branson campus to events, we will be collecting their driver’s license and insurance information. Upon receiving the information, we will run a Motor Vehicle Record report and add them to the Approved Parent/Guardian list.
School Vehicle Use Policy for Coaches, Faculty, and Staff
School vehicles are intended to be used for Branson business only Personal use is strictly prohibited, unless prior written authorization has been granted by the Head of School If an employee is permanently assigned a Branson vehicle, its use is restricted to the assigned driver only Use by family members is not permitted
Motor Vehicle Records
Only pre-qualified and authorized drivers may operate Branson vehicles or personal vehicles on School business The Business Office will maintain a list of authorized drivers and limit the operation of School vehicles to these drivers. There will be no exceptions.
Motor vehicle records (MVRs) shall be obtained for each and every Branson employee that drives a Branson vehicle. MVRs will be obtained:
● prior to assignment of a Branson vehicle (preferably prior to employment);
● annually, thereafter;
● after involvement in an accident and/or;
● any other time school administration deems it advisable
The information obtained shall be reviewed by the Director of Operations and/or the Head of School
Practical Driving Test
New for the 2024-2025 school year, all faculty and staff who would like to use a Branson vehicle will be required to drive with the Director of Facilities or Director of Operations before transporting students This session will consist of an initial training on how to use the vehicle and a short trip on public streets to assess driver awareness To schedule a time, please reach out to transportation@branson.org.
Rules of Conduct for Drivers of Branson Vehicles
It is every driver’s responsibility to drive defensively to avoid accidents, and safely maintain each vehicle under the driver’s control. “Defensive Driving” is defined as “Driving to avoid accidents in spite of the incorrect actions of others, and the adverse conditions of weather, visibility, light, and traffic that the driver may encounter on the road ” Failure to operate a vehicle safely will result in a suspension of driving duties until the unsafe behavior is corrected
Employees should:
● Not drive a school vehicle or personal vehicle on School business if they have been drinking alcoholic beverages or are under the influence of any drugs that could affect driving ability This includes prescription and over-the-counter medications
● Not drive alone with a student except in emergency situations with approval of a supervisor and the student’s parent(s).
● Not use cell phones for texting or conversations while driving.
● Obey all traffic laws. This includes the use of seat belts. It is mandatory for all operators and passengers to wear seat belts at all times.
● Be courteous to other drivers and pedestrians. Employees should remember that they represent Branson.
● Maintain at least a 2-second following distance from the vehicle ahead under excellent driving conditions; 3-seconds if over 40 mph If an employee encounters adverse conditions of road, traffic, light, visibility or weather, add a second or two for good measure
● Help other drivers to safely negotiate the highway If it is safe to do so, allow other drivers to merge by backing off and letting them in This applies at freeway on-ramps as well This courtesy will help employees avoid accident involvement and make the highway a more pleasant place to be
● Do a check of the vehicle they drive Employees should report any vehicle defects to the Facilities department
● Immediately report all accidents to the Business Office
Accidents
Accidents are of considerable concern to us because:
● Any accident involving a Branson vehicle, even when minor, involves the potential for serious personal injury, and affects the safety and well-being of our employees.
● Accidents are costly and time consuming. They have a definite bearing on our operational costs and often reflect basic conditions for other losses.
● Our own insurance costs eventually reflect these losses.
● Accident control is good business. It is in keeping with our public relations policies and in our support of highway safety
What to Do at an Accident Scene
In spite of our best efforts to avoid an accident, we recognize that they can happen and we must be prepared if they do Should an employee be involved in a vehicle accident, they should do the following:
● Stop immediately
● If the employee is not injured, they should protect the accident scene to prevent other vehicles from becoming involved.
● Call or send for help (EMS) and for the police.
● Render first aid if certified to do so.
● Complete the Driver’s Report in the Accident Packet in the vehicle’s glove box.
● Request the names, addresses, and phone numbers of witnesses.
● Do not admit liability at the accident scene.
In many cases, determining the person at fault in an accident is done only after extensive investigation Employees should be courteous to others at the scene, but never accept the blame Investigators will determine that Also, employees should not discuss the details of the accident with anyone other than a licensed authority such as a police officer, our insurance company representative or broker, without getting prior approval from Branson administration
Upon returning to Branson, employees should obtain and complete the Vehicle Accident Review form, along with the accident report the employee completed at the scene, and submit them to the Business Office within 24 hours
If an employee is in an accident, and it is deemed their fault, they will have their privilege of driving students revoked for 6 months
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Thank you for your partnership in complying with the terms of this handbook during the 2024-2025 school year.
For further information, please consult the Transportation resource tile on MyBranson, where you will find details on each of our programs If you still have questions after reviewing, please email the Transportation Team at transportation@branson org
Branson develops students who make a positive impact in the world by leading lives of integrity, purpose, learning, and joy.