Beyond the Wheels: Exploring Innovative Designs for Modern School Buses

When it comes to "classic designs," it's hard to get more classic than the big yellow school bus. The basic look of American school buses was cemented in the 1940s, and hasn't changed much since... but the technology inside them has.

Modern school bus designs have numerous new features that improve their safety and reliability, and even more optional add-ons that can go further. Combined, these make modern school buses far better than buses of previous decades!Some of our favorite new technologies include:

GPS Tracking

If there's a single upgrade that should be on every bus in a fleet, it's GPS tracking. With tracking systems, a bus can send its exact location to the office, allowing bus managers to get an instant overview of their buses in real-time. From this information, other data can be extrapolated, such as the speed of the bus. Are your drivers staying within the speed limit? With GPS tracking, you'll know.

Cameras with Monitors

Traditionally, bus drivers really had too much to keep track of. They needed to somehow watch over 30+ children in back, while also still safely driving around in a large vehicle with gigantic blind spots on either side.

Now, this can be fixed with low-cost camera technology. Buses are increasingly coming with interior cameras aimed at the passengers, as well as external cameras filling in the mirrors' blind spots. These can all be sent to a monitor directly in the driver's eyeline, allowing them far more visibility - but without taking their eyes off the road!

Smart driving systems

"Smart" driving systems, such as collision warning and lane detection, have been standard in cars and commercial trucks for years - and thankfully, they're coming to buses as well. These systems are particularly vital for buses that only have a driver, with no other adult onboard. The smart systems basically act as a persistent co-driver, alerting the driver to potential problems that might otherwise escape their notice.

Given how many things a driver must keep track of at once, this is vital extra layer of support which prevents incidents.

In-bus WiFi

WiFi is another great feature for buses, because it gives the kids something to do. If the bus allows for Internet connection, the students can do their homework, or just quietly waste time online. This can do a lot to reduce disruptive behavior by keeping the kids distracted.

Too much screen time might be an issue overall, but on school buses, it's a good thing if the students are quietly staring at their phones for the whole ride.

Electric Buses

The next big thing on the horizon for school buses is going electric! Electric vehicle technology has hit the point that even buses can be entirely electric, while still having the speed, power, and range to complete a standard bus route. 

While these EV buses are just beginning to enter service, they will revolutionize the industry. EVs create far less pollution, while also providing a quieter and smoother ride. They even have reduced maintenance requirements, compared to internal-combustion engines.

The next time your district buys buses, they may be EVs.

So, what are your favorite new bus technologies? Let us know in the comments!