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 bus safety is an important topic, and one that finds itself in the headlines often – from onboard technology and student behavior to vehicle safety, driver training and beyond. But what about the students who walk to school, navigating busy roads just to get to their morning class? What measures are in place to help ensure they get to school safely and on-time?

When school is out for the winter holidays, it’s time to bundle up and hit the road — and stay safe along the way. When the weather is unpredictable and kids get rowdy, it’s important to plan ahead to make sure they stay happy and occupied while you stay focused. Since safety is our No. 1 priority (and we know it’s yours, too), we thought a few tips would help beyond the obvious “check your windshield wipers and tire pressure” line already on your to-do list.

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.