Month: May 2018

10 School Bus Safety Tips for Parents [Infographic]

Posted on by TSB Super Admin

Children may get excited while seeing the school bus. Being over excited may cause dangerous things such as turning around, running around and being careless while getting on and off the bus.

Most of the people place their kids and faith in a bus as it is large and slow. This doesn’t mean that the risk of accident will decrease and it is not only the responsibility of the school bus drivers alone to ensure safety.

Parent and children also have an important role in this. So, it is vital for the parents to teach their kids some safety protocols so that kids can experience a safer ride in the school bus.

Considering all these things, we are showcasing few safety tips in the form of infographic which can reduce the chance of getting injured as well as lessen the fear of parent regarding their child’s safety.

10 School Bus Safety Tips for Parents infographic

What is AIS 140 Certification? How Can You Get It for Your Vehicle?

Posted on by TSB Super Admin

It will not be an overstatement to quote that the economy of a country is majorly dependent on the efficiency of its transportation system. Termed as a backbone for any developing country, the transportation system is ordained to work to its full potential at all times.

A breakdown of your transport system is bound to throw your business out of gear, causing you irrevocable losses.

Given the significance of transport system to the growth of the country’s GDP, Indian government has come up with an Intelligent Transport System (ITS); a segment of Automotive Industry Standard (AIS) 140.

Below is the rundown of various ways in which public and private vehicles are made safe and efficient by adhering to the prescribed norms of AIS 140 certification.

Before you understand what the AIS 140 certification has in store for vehicle owners, it is important that you know about the recent April 2018 mandate that was released by the Indian government.

The Indian Government’s Mandate of April 2018

According to the mandate released by the Indian government, AIS 140 certification is mandatory for public service vehicles including public and private transport buses, taxis, cabs and transport buses that ferry employees.

Last but not the least, the bright yellow colored school buses are also instructed to get an AIS 140 certification. Through this AIS 140 certification, vehicle owners will meet all the specifications revolving around the safety, comfort, quality of service and efficiency.

The mandate made it imperative for these vehicles to be fitted with vehicle tracking devices and emergency buttons by 1st April 2018.

Seen as a revolutionary move on part of the Indian government to ensure the efficiency of both private and public vehicles, the April 2018 AIS 140 mandate thus brings in a perfect blend of camera surveillance, vehicle tracking and emergency request processing systems for the combined benefit of fleet owners, drivers and passengers as well. 

The Benefits of AIS 140 Certification

Offering an AIS 140 complaint transport system is a welcome step for the following reasons.

All the above categories of vehicles will come under the mandate of AIS 140 and will be attached to a vehicle tracking server manned by the Indian government.

The Indian government has plans underway to establish a host of authorized servers in every city streamlining a number of functionalities. Gaining strength from a cloud-based data storage, vehicle owners can make the most of the real-time vehicle updates coming from a tracking device that is fitted to their vehicles. 

The AIS 140 certification brings to the table a host of features. These are:

1. A Strong Vehicle Tracking System– This is one of the most significant features of AIS 140 certification. Through an automatic vehicle location tracking system, you will be in a position to monitor every trip your vehicle takes.

You will not only be informed about how you can optimize the consumption of vehicle fuel but also have data points substantiating the punctuality of your fleet regarding arrival and departure timings.

2. Efficient Management of Routes and Transport Schedules – The AIS 140 certification provides enough room for the efficient management of vehicle routes and their scheduling. The device can help you cut down your fuel expenditure by suggesting the shortest route to reach your destination.

3. An SOS Button During Crises– These vehicle tracking devices which are AIS 140 compliant come with a click-to-activate button which will help drivers during an emergency. Once an emergency information reaches the emergency response server, precautionary instructions will soon come your way.

Tagged as an AIS 140 Panic Button, passengers on board or the driver can activate this button during a crisis so as to send an emergency alert to the Government’s Command Center.

4. An Effective Tool To Manage Your Crew – The AIS 140 mandate is an ideal way to keep a watchful eye on the behavior of drivers while they are at the wheel. With an AIS 140 telematics system fitted to your vehicle, you can have a watchful eye on the sudden braking instances and the over-speeding metrics.

All such instances when a driver initiates a rash turn will be recorded and shared with you in the form of MIS reports.

5. Tampering Alerts – The telematics device will pop up an alert when your vehicle tracking device is being tampered.

6. Vehicle Health Advisor –The AIS 140 certification can become the barometer of the condition of your vehicle. The device embedded with a Vehicle Health Monitoring & Diagnostics tool can ensure the health of your vehicle at all times alongside allowing you to predict the possibilities of wear-and-tear that can cause transport breakdowns.

7. Safety of Passengers Paramount – In an attempt to ensure the safety of passengers onboard, an AIS 140 tracking device fitted to your vehicle will provide you with in-house video recording.

It is through this constant surveillance that you can ensure the safety of your passengers at all times. You can also get location-based announcements.

Coming to the next question of this blog, you will now learn about the preliminary steps that should be taken by you so that your fleet is bestowed with the AIS 140 certification.

How to Get Your Vehicle the Much-Needed AIS 140 Certification?

In order to ensure compliance to the AIS 140 guidelines to get your vehicle AIS 140 certified, you as a vehicle owner should fit your vehicles with a GPS tracking system along with a camera surveillance and emergency request button.

It is through these safety and monitoring gadgets that the Indian government can track any bus.

Allowing the control room to have hands-on information of what would have caused a mishap, it is through the AIS 140 guidelines that you can ensure the safety of your passengers.

As per the directive, both the existing and the upcoming vehicles should be equipped with GPS tracking systems and emergency buttons. That makes it imperative for automobile OEMs (other equipment manufacturers) to start the production of these vehicle tracking and safety devices.

Closing Thoughts

It will not be an exaggeration to state that the Indian government has taken a big leap towards ensuring the safety and efficiency of its transport system.

Once the AIS 140 directives are brought into total compliance by all the public and private vehicles plying in all the Indian cities, it will be time for the implementation of Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) and Augmented Reality (AR).

The day is not far when these two technological advancements linked to the transport system will soon become inevitable functionalities with every vehicle under the radar of the Indian government.

12 Important Benefits of School Buses

Posted on by TSB Super Admin

School buses have always been a common and one of the most preferred modes of transportation for school children. Parents all across the globe are using services of school buses to pick and drop their kids for past few decades.

But still, when it comes to deciding whether or not to use services of a school bus for kids, many parents find it difficult to make a decision.

If you are also finding it hard to choose a mode of communication for your kid for their school, then here we are listing a few benefits of school buses to help you make a choice. 

Benefits of School Buses for Parents

1. Always on time

One of the most important benefits of school buses is that they arrive on time. Every morning, you know when the bus will be at the stop to pick your kid. So accordingly, you can manage your timing and ensure that your little one reaches school on time.

On the other hand, when you choose to pick and drop your kid on your own, managing time becomes a little tricky, especially if you have more than one kid and they are in different schools or have different regimes.

Also, on rainy days or when you are sick, or your vehicle is not working, your kids either get late to the school or end up taking a leave.

2. School buses now come with GPS systems

GPS system on a school bus means you can always track the location of your kid. The GPS tracker empowers parents to know their child's location and give them peace of mind.

At the same time, it is a blessing in times of emergency; parents can easily track where the bus is and can reach the location immediately. 

3. Kids make new friends

From a young age, kids get to learn a lot of new things. And when they travel in school buses, they not just make new friends, but they learn sharing, companionship and how to make new friends.

These things will help them for years to come. For school going kids’, school bus is usually the best place where they get to meet new kids and make friends.

4. Kids learn to take care of their things:

When kids use school buses, they learn to take care of their personal belongings, like a school bag, water bottle, and lunch box. This helps them in their overall development and well-being and makes them a responsible and independent individual.

5. Kids learn to manage their time

School buses daily come at the same stop on same time. As a result, kids become very conscious and careful about the timing and learn to complete their things on time.

They get ready on time to make sure that they catch their bus. Also, another motivating factor to catch the bus on time is the friend circle they have on their bus.

6. Parents have complete peace of mind

When using services of school buses, parents can rest assured about the conveyance and safety of their kids. They don’t have to worry about daily commute of their kids and to manage their to-do list according to the timing of the school.

They can easily carry on with their tasks and personal commitments with complete peace of mind that the school bus will pick and drop their kid on time, without a miss no matter what.

Benefits of School Buses from School’s Point of View

7. Classes can start on time

When you have school buses, you can be assured that kids and teachers will be on the school premises on time and classes can start on scheduled time. This makes the daily schedule as smooth as possible.

8. Keep parents updated on their kids’ location with a GPS system

With GPS system you can always keep parents updated about the location of their kids. They can check if the bus is following the given route and is on time. This creates a level of trust and parents become assured about the safety of their little ones.

9. It is an additional facility that you can offer to parents

Parents when choosing a school for their kids look for facilities that the school is offering. And by providing school bus facility, you can increase your list of offerings and attract more and more parents.

Parents also feel relaxed that they don’t have to bother about daily dropping and to pick their kids.

General Benefits

10. Lesser Vehicles on the Road

When transporting a school student to and from school, parents need not take their vehicle out during the peak traffic hours. If a school bus carries 50 students, it means there are far lesser vehicles on the road.

11. Better Environment

When there is less number of vehicles on road, the emissions from vehicles are also reduced. Vehicle emissions include dangerous gases such as carbon monoxide, which has severe negative effect on the environment.

As school buses make it unnecessary for parents to transport students to and from schools, a significantly lower number of cars are there on the road, reducing the overall carbon footprint drastically. Thus, school buses contribute to a better environment.

12. Lower Accident Rate

Many studies over the years have repeatedly stated that school buses have a significantly lower number of accidents on road compared to students travelling by cars.

So, if you have been confused about hiring services of a school bus for your kid, then now with these benefits listed above you know how you and your little one can benefit from the school bus and why you should also hire one for your kid.

What Features Would an Automated School Bus Have

Posted on by TSB Super Admin

Automation in school bus system is just a sea-change in the school bus parent alert solution that enables the parents to get real-time alerts of their children’s location and current status of transportation during everyday commutation to school.

The solution is great for schools, fleet owners, and parents for tracking and keeping all the updates about the driver’s behavior. It completely checks and helps to keep under control rash movements of vehicle like over-speeding and rash braking.

The solution has the superior potential to make sure that the transportation of the students stays completely stress-free and dependable in the to and fro regular trips to the school.

As the authorities get timely information, pertaining to the movement of the school vehicle, it becomes easier for them to take corrective actions and avoid any type of untoward incident during every day transportation activities.

Let’s know about some of the important features of the automated school bus system.

SMS alerts for parents or Guardians

  1. Parents get complete information about the exact time, when the bus reaches the bus-stop for picking up the children.
  2. Parents or guardians also get prior information about any delay in service in the route.
  3. The guardians or parents get correct information about their children’s arrival and departure from the school.
  4. If any on-road accident or mishap takes place, the parents and authorities get immediate intimation.
  5. The parents could demand real-time location of the bus.

Alerts about break-down in system of the bus

  1. The solution also reports about over-speeding, rough braking and excess speeding of the vehicle.
  2. It also reports about any mishap or happening of the road accident.
  3. The device could even detect any tampering in its installation.

Intelligent reporting about movement of the vehicle

  1. The solution keeps complete tab of the behavior of the driver.
  2. It could even report about real-time location and absolute report about change of route.

Immediate hands-free communication with the school bus driver in case of emergencies

The solution could even get in touch with the driver, when there is urgency. It keeps the activities of the driver under control and asks him to take necessary caution in case of rash driving and harsh braking of the vehicle.

The solution gives details about various alternate routes

As various routes in the metro cities get closed due to arrival of V.I.Ps and on other important occasions, the installed system keeps everyone informed about the alternate routes that has to be followed by the driver.

Usage of eco-friendly components in the installation

The school bus, operated by fuel, has the inherent drawback of emitting carbon-dioxide and causing air pollution. But the installation of automated bus system is absolutely eco-friendly.

The components like RF readers, sensors, telematics system, communication device, adaptors, and mobile applications do not cause any type of air pollution.

Overall, this also results in the optimization of efficiency by tracking engine which results in helping the fleet managers, school management, and the government in pollution control and reaping highest benefits for the environment.

Reduced human intervention

The solution makes sure that during the movement of the school bus, there is least human intervention. With the implementation of this solution, the movement goes through an automated and programmed procedure that keeps the bus absolutely safe and almost error-free during the transportation.

Great help for the driver

The smart functions and automation make sure that the driver of the bus stays out of any undesirable human intervention and he feels comfortable during driving. The solution has helped to improve traffic safety, working conditions of the  school bus staff, and bring reduction in impact of the vehicle on the environment.

It suits greatly the functional purposes of the school bus

As safety is the first priority in the plying of  school bus, the automated system in school bus largely meets other objectives of the transportation like cost- efficiency, increased dependability on the means of public transportation, security, and better return-on-investment.

The solution has the great strength to deal with every type of complication during transportation. As the information system in the solution functions smartly, it entrusts better control in the authorities and driver, whenever there is adverse circumstance due to rough weather.

It is greatly helpful in detecting road conditions

Rain, storm, and other adverse weather conditions create worst road conditions. A bus equipped with automated bus system has the greater ability to detect road conditions.

It guides the driver as per the guidelines set for the driving of the school bus. As an automated school bus has the deployment of automatic tire chains which is helpful in keeping the pick-up routes in tact in case of an emergency situation.

This not only keeps the children safe in the bus during the journey  but also have smarter time management.

Highly cost effective and time efficient

With the introduction of automation in the school bus system, the behavior of the bus driver comes under deep observation. As driver is the most important person in the entire transportation route, the solution literally integrates scientific management in the entire functioning of the transportation system.

Reducing the idle time to the minimum, the authorities in the transportation system get better control over the day-to-day expenses.

As the key areas like scrutiny of the driver log sheets, engine diagnostics, and fuel consumption come under scrutiny, it helps the management to run better control and achieve productivity.

Reduction in waiting period

As tracking of the school bus gets easier, the children could get relief from long waiting period. Parents and students get constantly notified about the arrival and departure of the bus and that considerably reduces the time spent by the students in waiting. Resulting in superior time management, it eliminates unnecessary time spent by the students, waiting for the bus.

Automation endows longevity on the bus

The GPS-enabled school bus system gets the superior software that tracks the movement of the bus completely. This also keeps tab of the engine and body conditions of the bus.

As a result, the authorities take the bus for maintenance after every interval period. This endows better longevity on the bus. Through mileage tracking from fuel consumption, the authorities keep track of the warranty period for free maintenance of the bus.

This also enables the management to go for extended periods of warranty for the maintenance of the school vehicle. This leaves no chance for occurrence of faster wear and tear of the bus as maintenance work takes place regularly.

Highest coordination for safety and responsibilities

As “coordination” is key to successful management, highest coordination for safety and related responsibilities is only possible through successful application of this automation in the bus system.

The solution helps the managers to apply better management procedures that give them highest productivity in the end.

As a management tool, the solution also helps them to implement new plans and get optimum returns in terms of successful tracking, fleet management, and end of waiting for the arrival and departure of the bus.

Surveillance through CCTV

Mischievous nature of the children invariably poses a threat to the management of school, while the bus passes through the transit.  As the automated buses have the installation of surveillance cameras, the school authorities could exercise control over the students, creating mischief inside the bus, while the vehicle passes through the transit.

The camera inside the bus records the activities of the students inside the bus and the authorities of the school could view it regularly at the end of the day.

Some of the automated buses even install IP camera and wireless networking, which telecasts the activities inside the bus directly to the school as the bus passes through the transit.

Systematic recording of attendance of the students

The students often indulge in boarding the bus at the wrong stop and even alighting at the wrong stops with an intention to roam after the everyday school hours.

The automated bus system systematically records the attendance of the students with the regular recording of boarding and alighting of the students at their points.

Many of the buses have even installed RFID card reader that makes minute observation of students’ attendance inside the bus. In such a case, every student carries a RFID card that the students would use at the entry and exit points of the bus for the regular recording of boarding and alighting from the bus.

Automation keeps full data-base of the students

As the perceived threat to the transportation in the school bus has increased manifold in the past with the heightening in terrorism, anti-social activities, and accidental fatalities.

The automation in the school bus system could literally put an end for the worries of the parents and headache of the authorities. The new solution even keeps related information of the child like name, contact details, and blood group. This helps in tackling emergency situations, arising unexpectedly at any point of time.

8 Benefits Parents Can Get Via School Bus Tracking

Posted on by TSB Super Admin

Safety of school children is a paramount to parents, not only when their kids are within the school premises but also while they are travelling back and forth to school or home via school buses.

Earlier, parents used to wait with bated breath till such time their wards reached the school or their doorstep. They were completely clueless of the location of bus or the time it will take for their wards to reach home.

With technology spreading its wings into every sphere of human life, this is the generation of school bus trackers which come as tracking aids.

These help parents in a number of ways in assuring their kids’ safety while onboard a school bus fitted with an AI-powered, GPS tracking system.

Here are some benefits parents can get via tracking their child’s school bus:

1. Travel Details Of Your Kid On Your Finger Tips

Information is wealth. This maxim is so true in the case of school bus tracking apps which are installed on the smartphones of parents whose kids travel via a school bus.

Through these school bus tracking aids, parents will be in a position to know the whereabouts of their kids. Any information concerning the school bus can be obtained by you as a parent at any point in time.

You will get updates on your phone’s screen that will provide all the travel details regarding your wards. You will get real-time alerts when your ward boarded or got off the school bus.

2. Keep A Check on the School Bus Speed Limit

Better to be safe than to be sorry. This is a befitting axiom that links the speed of the school bus to the safety of the children onboard.

Through the school bus tracking app, parents will be in a position to know the speed at which the school bus is travelling.

This can provide a sigh of relief to parents who can keep a watchful eye on whether the bus driver is meeting the specifications of speed limit of the school bus. School bus tracking apps can thus help in preventing accidents occurring on account of over-speeding.

3. Multiple Buses Can be Tracked

Given a scenario when your ward does not board the same bus every day, it is through school bus tracking that you as a parent can track multiple buses.

This feature comes as a boon to parents as they can put an end to anxiety about which bus their ward boarded.

4. Helps You Know the Exact Location of the School Bus

Parents who are connected to the school bus transportation system via their smartphones will be informed about the exact location of their wards.

They will get notifications about the location so that they can be prepared to either drop or pick up their wards from the bus point.

5. Notifications About Unexpected Inconveniences

It can be a natural hazard, the break-down of a school bus or a traffic jam that can inconvenience you and your ward.

With the school bus tracking app in your hands, a prior warning will flash on your smartphone, informing you about any hindrance that calls for your attention.

This way, you will be in a better position to make alternative arrangements or take any other corrective actions that deem fit.

6. Observations Regarding Your Child’s Pick-Up And Drop Timings

It is through the school bus tracking app that parents and school authorities can lay hands on the exact details linked to the time taken at every stop to either pick up or drop school kids.

In the event the bus halted for more than the prescribed time limit, you as parents will get notified regarding the delay.

7. Know Whether Your Kid Reached School or Your Home

The Radio Frequency Identification Tags provided by TrackSchoolBus come handy in providing the much-needed information regarding the exact location of your child.

It is through these exclusive school bus tracking apps that you will be informed about when your child reached home or school.

8. A Benefactor of Peace of Mind

Installing the school bus tracking apps provided by TrackSchoolBus will be an intelligent step towards enjoying peace of mind.

With real-time notifications popping up from the school bus tracking system on your smartphones, you will be in a favorable position to know the exact location of your kid.

Isn’t this a matter of convenience and peace to all the parents who can be rest assured about the safety of their wards while they are travelling via a school bus? Indeed! It is!

Key Takeaways

In addition to the above mentioned 8 benefits of school bus tracking apps, parents will able to keep a close watch over their kids’ academic performance.

The school bus tracking apps offered by TrackSchoolBus will help you download various academic reports including the attendance sheets of your wards.

This way, you can make the most of the technology options that are provided by these tracking apps to conveniently ensure the safety of your wards at all times.

How to Tackle Irresponsible School Bus Drivers

Posted on by TSB Super Admin

Schools are places where numerous kids come from different places and different cultures to learn. A lot of these kids use school buses as a mode of transport to travel to and from school.

It is important to have a safe environment for them to travel so that their parents feel at peace too. For this to take place the school bus must be handled by someone who is responsible and experienced. 

School bus drivers usually enjoy working with youngsters and are skilled and competent. But in certain cases, there are those who engage in unsafe means like driving recklessly, overtaking where it is unnecessary, skipping stop signs, using cell phone while driving and over speeding.

There are also instances where bus drivers lose their temper with kids who misbehave. Some others arrive late or forget to pick up a child. This makes them unreliable.

In this blog, we will discuss about how irresponsible school bus drivers can be tackled. The various steps that can be undertaken to tackle an irresponsible school bus driver are:

  • Call Up the School 

The first and foremost thing you can do is to call up and inform the school about an incident you want to report. Speak to the principal or the administrator regarding your issue.

After all, the driver is employed by the school, so it is your responsibility to let them know about their employee’s behaviour. Keep your calm and state the reason why you are having a complaint against the bus driver.

Give them details about where, when and what happened. You can give the physical description of the bus driver in case you couldn't catch his name.

  • Refrain from Losing Temper

Yes, it is the matter of the safety of children, but try to refrain from being angry and shouting and cursing the bus driver. Inappropriate language doesn’t solve the issue.

Your complaint will be taken more seriously if you stay calm and relate things with facts. Though the driver’s actions might have put your child’s safety at risk, it is important to deal with the issue in a professional manner so that your concerns will be heard and addressed.

  •  Ask the Solution 

Once you have communicated what your concern is, ask them how they can help to resolve the issue. Once you ask how the problem will be solved see if they volunteer the information.

You can expect that they will say that the school management will need to talk to the driver before taking any action. If so, ask them when you can call again to follow up the same. You can also ask for the name of the driver if you don’t know it yet.

  • Contact the Bus Company

In case the bus driver is an employee of the bus company you need to inform the representative regarding the irresponsibility of their driver.

They are the right people to address your problem regarding the infraction made by the driver. You can start by stating the route, the time at which your child was picked up or dropped off, name of the driver or the name of the school.

Give them all the required details so they can take appropriate action. You can enquire what they are going to do about the same.

  • Follow Up 

Once you have informed the school and the bus company, follow up with calls and letters regarding your issue with the driver’s behaviour.

Make sure that you clearly state all the facts pertaining to the incident. If a solution has not yet been suggested, propose one. For example, if the driver had forgotten to pick up your child from point, ask for an apology.

  • Involve Others

Talk to other parents with children in the same school bus. There are chances that they might have witnessed the same too. For instance, your child might tell you that his driver is texting while he is driving.

Other children in the same bus might have noticed this behaviour. In case the driver denies this statement you’re more likely to be believed if there are others who support your statement. Ask the bus company to check the footages if there is a camera in the bus.

  • Disciplinary Action 

It must be realized that the driver may not be dismissed immediately. He is entitled to due process as he is an employee of the bus company. Disciplinary action will be based on the seriousness of the infringement. He might be given a suspension or his pay may be docked.

To Wrap It Up

School bus management is a tender issue and must be handled only by experienced and mature people. Any kind of irresponsibility cannot be tolerated.

Even though schools and bus companies give bus drivers ample training, there are chances that they commit some kind of infringement. It might come to the notice of parents or students that drivers sometimes commit follies while they are driving the school bus.

But the lives of students are saddled in the hands of school bus drivers. So it is the full responsibility of the drivers to act responsibly.