Tips on How to Improve Student Rider Safety

Subject: Practical Tips for Improving Student Rider Safety

Each day, over 25 million students rely on school buses. Though school buses are known for their security, there are several steps that school districts can take to improve student rider safety.

From driver training to planning your bus routes, school districts across the country are implementing programs that enhance the safety of their school bus fleet. Read on for more practical tips that your school district can use to keep students safe.

Consider Your Fleet’s Design

More and more states are requiring the use of seatbelts on school buses. Safety restraints have not always been recommended, but in recent years most transportation advocacy groups have issued formal recommendations for the installation of seatbelts on school buses. Retrofitting school buses to include seatbelts can be costly, but the general consensus is that they save lives.

School districts are also equipping school bus stop arms with cameras and eight way lighting systems. The process of getting on and off of a school bus is one of the most dangerous aspects of riding a bus and both cameras and warning lights decrease the incidences of illegal passing that may lead to student injury.

Review District Transportation Policies

Safety training for school bus drivers is well worth the time and monetary investment. Along with entry and exit procedures, school districts should provide drivers with specialized training that includes behavior management approaches and crisis intervention techniques. Some districts also require certain routes to have a school bus monitor to address issues, allowing drivers to focus on the road.

School districts should also have maintenance policies that aim to keep their fleet in tip-top shape. Regular inspections of all equipment are an absolute must for ensuring student safety and transportation departments should have procedures in place for immediate repair or replacement of buses that do not meet their safety standards. Drivers should be aware of potential red flags that indicate a bus might not be safe to drive.

Install Transportation Management Software

Routing software specially designed for school buses is now used to develop transportation itineraries that avoid high-traffic areas and unsafe roads. Stops can now be assigned using sexual predator address information and maps of known crime areas to ensure student rider safety before and after their trip.

Specialized transportation software allows districts to stay on top of driver certifications and violations. Both drivers and administrations can utilize this software to avoid overcrowding, gain quick access to student health information, and account for missing students.

If your school district is seeking out ways to improve student rider safety, take a look at the many programs that BusBoss has to offer. They offer sophisticated routing software that is designed specifically for use by school transportation staff. Contact the team at BusBoss for additional information or to schedule a software demonstration.

We’d love to learn more about what your school district is doing to keep bus riders safe. Please share your questions and comments with us.