Yellow school buses are an everyday fixture in our neighborhoods and communities, yet there’s a more complex story behind the design, safety and routes that transport students to and from school. School bus carriers operate the largest mass transportation fleet in the country, and the industry itself is projected to grow even more during the next five years. This includes the traditional school transportation industry as we’ve known it for decades, as well as school bus-related technology including fleet telematics and school bus tracking apps.

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.

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

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.

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.

Most school bus rides go smoothly and remain incident-free. But sometimes students need a little gentle discipline to encourage better bus behavior. What can you do to ensure that all students exhibit proper school bus conduct?

Throughout the United States, school districts are onboarding a GPS tracking device on every school bus in an effort to keep students safe and save money.

These days, a global positioning system (GPS) is seamlessly integrated into smartphones. While paper maps are nice, it is easier to check your phone for directions, estimated time of arrival, and traffic slowdowns along the way. School districts are beginning to take advantage of this technology for similar reasons.

At the start of this school year, Rutherford County schools in Tennessee equipped all 250 of their school buses with a GPS tracking device. The growing school district buses over 25,000 students each day, and that number is rapidly increasing.

School Bus Tracking App Launching Robust Analytics Platform That Identifies Savings Opportunities for Schools

Charleston, SC (January 31, 2017) – SafeStop, the industry’s leading school bus tracking app, enjoyed a strong start to the 2016-2017 school year with its geographic expansion, increased subscriber rates, and added features. The number of customers using the service has more than doubled year over year since inception. And as growth continues, the company has used its SafeStop Analytics platform to identify four major trends since the school year commenced.

A quality infographic is worth a thousand words. Put simply, an infographic is a graphic that lays out information in a visually accessible format. Infographics are a great tool for teachers, school administrators, and transportation directors to quickly learn or teach others about safety tips, teaching methods, and new classroom technology.

Preparing your school bus fleet for the winter months can save you time by preventing malfunctions and money in potential repairs. One key area of focus that is sometimes overlooked is maintaining and replacing shock absorbers. Failure to inspect and repair damaged or malfunctioning shocks can lead to more than just an uncomfortable ride — it can cause unsafe driving conditions.