Supporting Driver Accountability

High-profile school bus tragedies such as the crash that took the lives of six students in Tennessee have parents concerned across the country. With an uptick in bullying and school violence, there is also valid worry about these incidents carrying over to the ride to and from the classroom. Many parents also have apprehension that their child might get on the wrong bus or be forced to wait at a stop that just isn’t safe. Both parents and school officials agree that rider safety relies on school bus driver accountability.

School bus accidents are fairly rare. In fact, between 2005 and 2015, school bus accidents accounted for less than one percent of fatal crashes in the United States. Incidents between students are more common. Thorough planning by transportation departments can help ensure that students wait at safe stops and get on the correct buses, but to be assured that everyone has a completely safe ride, school bus drivers must be accountable.

Keeping School Bus Drivers Accountable

There are many systems that can help transportation departments keep school bus drivers accountable. One way to increase accountability is through driver training. By providing education that teaches school bus drivers how to spot the warning signs of bullying, avoid traffic dangers, and respond to emergencies, they are given the tools needed to take accountability.

Encouraging communication between drivers and supervisors can also keep students safe and increase driver accountability. Drivers should be given plenty of opportunities to get vital information to those who can help them to respond.

The Role of Technology

Technology is also playing a role in driver accountability. GPS systems let transportation departments keep tabs on drivers and where buses are in real-time. If there is a deviation to a route or an unauthorized stop, quick action can be taken and drivers held accountable.

GPS systems have made an enormous impact on the school transportation world. This software provides several key benefits. Of course, accidents and inconsistent driving can be followed up on immediately, but this can also prevent payroll overages that result from school bus drivers not following their assigned route or timeline. Alarms can be set that alert supervisors of speeding or a bus that ends up at an unauthorized location. Detailed activity logs allow administrators to manage driver accountability and their compliance with district policies and guidelines. This level of accountability for drivers helps to keep students safe, and can also save school districts money in multiple ways, including their insurance premiums.

Buses across the country are now equipped with sophisticated cameras that record audio and video data. When an incident occurs, this provides an easy way to review driver involvement. Along with easing the mind of parents and school district officials, cameras can also protect students from incidents of bullying and violence and drivers from false claims.

To learn more about technology that can help your school district ensure driver accountability, contact the team at BusBoss. We offer a full range of transportation software options that are specifically designed to help school bus transportation professionals manage their fleet and keep student riders safe. From route planning to student tracking, we offer a full selection of transportation software to meet the specific needs and budget of your district. Our GPS programs can be easily integrated with other software. We’d be glad to schedule a software demonstration and provide additional information on the many solutions that can benefit your school district.

What methods does your school district utilize to ensure school bus driver accountability? Which programs do you think are the most effective? Do you feel that this has increased efficiency and safety? We appreciate your opinion and feedback.