School buses carry precious cargo. So when it comes to school bus safety, drivers should receive extensive training about arrival and departure procedures, emergency protocols, and the importance of pre-trip inspection checklists.

School bus safety starts before your engine does

When most people hear the phrase school bus safety, they think about things like seat belts and defensive driving. However, when it comes to your buses, safety starts before your yellow-and-black fleet leaves the lot.

Driving in an urban environment can be challenging for any commuter. The regular frustrations of city driving — heavy traffic, unpredictable pedestrians, and congested roadways, to name a few — are significantly more problematic for school bus drivers.

Considering that a school bus can measure up to 45 feet long, it’s easy to understand why routes in urban environments can be tough for drivers. School bus scheduling and routing in cities can also present particular challenges, since buses must compete with dense urban traffic, emergency vehicles, and pedestrians. The good news: managing the challenges of city driving is easily done with sufficient training custom-tailored to your area.

Here's some trivia for you – did you know (as of 2017), only six states require seat belts on school buses? This may seem unsafe, but let's look at the facts. According to the American School Bus Council, children are about 70 times more likely to get to school safely if they take the school bus, instead of traveling by car.

However, many organizations endorse the use of seat belts in buses, including The National Safety Council and The American Academy of Pediatrics. Although the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration (NHTSA) agrees that school buses are safe, they also believe that three-point restraint systems can make school buses even safer.

Child safety restraint systems are national mandates on buses when the bus weighs less than 10,000 pounds. These buses require a shoulder/lap belt. However, such buses comprise only about 20% of the nation's school bus fleet. The large school buses should have a Child Safety Restraint System (CSRS) if the state or district requires them – but it's not federally mandated.

Defensive driving techniques are required training for school bus drivers. These techniques are designed to save lives, time, and money for bus fleets. As a transportation director or school administrator, it is your job to ensure your drivers are always ready for what lies ahead. Drivers must know how to identify, avoid, and respond to hazards, all while their school bus is in operation.

Distracted driving results when a driver shifts their focus away from the safe operation of the school bus. Talking on the phone and eating are common examples of distracted driving, but many other factors can affect a school bus driver’s focus on the road.

There are three types of distracted driving:

• Visual: The driver’s eyes are off the road
• Manual: The driver’s hands are not on the steering wheel
• Mental: The driver’s thoughts are not focused on driving

Crossing guards are a vital part of your child’s commute

It’s easy to take crossing guards for granted, and sometimes we forget how important their job is.

With their fluorescent reflective vests and stop signs, crossing guards are instrumental in helping children get to and from school safely. If you are interested in hiring a crossing guard for an area near your school, contact your local police department or school board.

Schools, law enforcement, government planning departments, and community members may implement a crossing guard program as a group or separately.

School bus drivers shoulder a tremendous responsibility. Every day, they must safely transport children to and from school. They must know how to avoid road hazards, and respond effectively when problems occur.

Smartphones, smart cars, smart refrigerators – much of our technology is smart, and getting smarter all the time. Even our classrooms are using smart technology. One of the most innovative ideas to come to the classroom is the Smart Board, an interactive whiteboard that can do everything your computer does. Simply connect your PC to an overhead digital projector and a giant touch screen computer, or Smart Board, is literally at your fingertips.

Not too long ago (think early 2000's) a computer lab was the pinnacle of technology for any school. But today, technology has spread outside the lab and into the classroom. Many of your students spend each morning and afternoon on the school bus, so shouldn’t your school bus fleet get with the times? 

School buses are among the safest vehicles on the road. With high seat backs and egg-carton seats, buses are designed to keep passengers protected. Where applicable, it is important to ensure your bus fleet includes wheelchair transportation services that meet national securement regulations. If wheelchairs are not properly secured, they can cause harm to the student or even other passengers on board.