January 2019 - trackschoolbus

15 Best School Bus Driving Games 2020 [Updated]

Posted on January 30, 2019 by TSB Super Admin

Diverse school bus driving games are now dominating app and play stores that are not only interesting but also improve your driving skills.

They are now dominating the App Store and Google Play downloads. School bus driving games are also increasing its demand, with the player being a virtual school bus driver and their goal to deliver kids safely to school.

These kinds of bus driving games will add more excitement when the driver has to overcome some obstacles, drive fast without making accidents, here are a few trending School Bus Driving Games available on the market

1. World Bus Driving Simulator

Ratings-4.1
Installs-1,000,000+
Size- 37M
Last updated- April 1, 2020

Feel like the life of bus drivers…

Drive the famous buses in Brazil through challenging and adventurous routes and test your off-road driving skills. The buses can be customized with your favorite painting. This game is sure to give a reality closer experience for the drivers.

Features

Automatic and manual gearbox
Realistic graphics, with configuration options to run on weaker phones!
Cycle day/night with beautiful visual!
Realistic Physics

School Bus Coach Driver 2019

Ratings-3.8
Installs-100,000+
Size- 68M
Last updated-July 25, 2019

Get ready for playschool and city school bus game!!

As a driver, your duty is to pick up students and teachers from their homes and drop them safely and soundly to the schools and vice versa.

Keep an eye on the heavy traffic in the city during peak times; be careful while driving high school coaches.

This game is a fun-filled arcade game to test your hand-eye coordination and timing. Play this entertaining adventure and become the master bus driver.

Features

Offline gameplay
Realistic bus interiors
Both left and right-hand drive
Big city and uphill offroad environments

Offroad School Bus Driving Simulator 2020

Ratings- 3.7
Installs-1,000,000+
Size- 57M
Last updated- May7, 2019

Are you ready to face the adventure and challenge? Then, Offroad school bus driving game is perfect for you.

This simulator game is an adventure-filled offroad bus simulation game. Your goal is to pick up students from the bus stops and to drop them safely to school. You need to obey all traffic rules and drive carefully through dangerous and crazy offroad paths. Take special attention not to hurt students and damage your school bus.

This game has many addictive and challenging levels. As game progresses levels are more exciting than previous ones.

Features

Multiple camera angles
Challenging levels
Stunning 3D graphics
Beautiful offroad environment

Bus Racing

Ratings- 3.8
Installs-10,000,000+
Size- Varies with device
Last updated- April 15, 2020

Feel the real classic experience of bus driving.

It’s time to race on the hill tracks. All you need is the art of control, speed, balance etc to reach the finishing lines on the hill tracks. This game gives an opportunity to showcase your driving skills. You need to drive through hills, avoid obstacles and reach your destination. The game has a spectacular 3D environment that brings more life to the game, different themes and a variety of buses to drive.

Features

Intelligent Traffic System
Multiple controls, Steering Wheel, Buttons or Tilting
Challenge your friends with real time multiplayer
3D Realistic maps

Real School Bus Driving- Offroad Bus Driver 2019

Ratings- 3.8
Installs-1,000,000+
Size- 62M
Last updated-July 21, 2019

The games give you an experience of real stimulation of offroad school bus driving experience. Show your best highway bus driving skills to your friends. Your mission is to pick up and drop students and teachers to schools and to their homes respectively. You should be a punctual offroad driver. Show your driving skills by driving through risky hilly mountain areas.

Features

Highly interactive gameplay
Latest models of offroad buses
Challenging offroad mission
User-friendly game interaction

Also Read: General Knowledge For Kids(105 Q & A)

Super High School Bus Driving Simulator 3D 2019

Ratings- 4.0
Installs-10,000,000+
Size- 139M
Last updated- April 9, 2020
Are you ready to prove yourself as the best school bus driver?

This latest hit game lets you experience the risk of picking and dropping off students safely to their destinations. Dean is quite a rough and tough person, but you can impress him by your driving skills and get praised for your duty. Become student’s favorite driver by taking them to picnics and adventurous places to let them learn new things.

Features

140+ buses to drive
Realistic driving physics
Cool 3D locations
Free drive mode

Bus Simulator Free

Ratings- 3.7
Installs-5,000,000+
Size- 57M
Last updated- January 11, 2019

Action filled exciting bus games!!!

Play this game to get a chance to navigate through beautiful mountains and gorgeous terrains. Driver should be careful of treacherous turns and curvy mountain paths. If your bus falls, then the game will be over.

Each level is filled with adventurous and exciting. Get ready to play this exciting bus driving games, your passengers are waiting for you.

Features

Tilt steering
Stunning 3D graphics
Easy to drive
Smooth and realistic bus handling

Baby Panda’s School Bus- Let’s Drive!

Ratings- 3.7
Installs-5,000,000+
Size- 57M
Last updated- January 11, 2019

Beep beep beep!!!

Super fun-filled game for youngsters. Get ready to drive Baby Panda’s school bus through Blossom Road and over Rainbow Bridge.

You need to drive the school bus too carefully to reach destinations. This game is sure to be interesting and attractive for youngsters.

Features

Virtual driving
Interesting gameplay
Colourful and exciting graphics

Bus Racing 3D-Hill Station Bus Simulator 2019

Ratings-3.5
Installs-1,000,000+
Size- 28M
Last updated- January 3, 2020

Drive and get the real classic bus racing experience.

Unlike other bus driving games, in this, you need to race with other auto cars near you and should reach terminal first to win this game. Your mission is to pick up passengers and drop them to their destinations. Once the bus is broken or damaged, you will fail.

Get the feel of thunderstorm, rain, snow and sunny in this 6×6 mountain tourist bus simulator game. Remember to turn on your wiper when it rains.

Features

Fantastic Hill Station Environment and 3D Graphics
Multiple controls, Steering Wheel, Buttons or Tilting
Realistic Environments with different levels
Intelligent Traffic System

Bus Game Free-Top Simulator Games

Ratings- 3.5
Installs-10,000,000+
Size- 29M
Last updated- May 17, 2019

Play this best bus driving bus game with better gameplay, better graphics, and overall better experience.

You are driving a big city bus, so be careful. Watch out the traffic and don’t hit any vehicles around you. Your mission is to drop all the passengers safely and reach the terminal first.

Features

Many different routes across the city
Full 3D large environment
Offline game
Smooth controls optimized for bus simulator

High School Bus Driving 3D

Ratings-3.9
Installs-1,000,000+
Last updated- March 29, 2020

High School Bus Driving is a real and energetic stimulating game for expert drivers. If you wish to drive long automobiles in busy city roads then this game is perfect for you. The traffic may let you to be late for the school but drive fast with obeying all traffic rules. The driver should be responsible for the safety of all students in the school bus.

Features

HD Graphics and detailed 3D Environment
Amazing School Bus Driving Experience
Drive different types of school buses
Realistic 3D City traffic vehicles

Modern Bus Driver Game

Ratings-4.0
Installs- 1,000,000+
Size- 52M
Last updated- April 20, 2020

Yet another game to experience the real off-road driving.

Realistic traffic and student animations will make you feel like driving a real bus. You have to pick and drop students to school and home. Be aware of city traffic and drive safely. This game is specially designed in a way for those who love to play simulation games.

Features

Tap harder on the brake to stop during city area
Use the steering control to become the best games driver
Tap on the accelerator for speed up urban bus

Ultimate Bus Driving

Ratings-3.8
Installs- 5,000,000+
Size- 107M
Last updated- August 29, 2019

This game is sure to make you thrilled!!!

Test your driving skills by driving through offroad tricky areas. We have included realistic physics and mechanics simulators, play and become an expert and experienced bus driver. Drive through bustling city highways, collect coins and win stars.

Features

Wide-open world to explore
Win medals and collect coins
80 levels to finish
Free drive mode

School Bus Driver 3D SIM

Ratings-4.3
Installs- 10,000,000+
Size- 50M
Last updated- September 24, 2018

Are you kids’ favorite driver? Oh yes, kids are waiting for you.

In-School Bus Driver game, you need to pick and drop students. So special attention should be given to students’ security as you are driving through crazy and busy city roads. Follow all traffic rules and take care of your school bus too. Get ready for your mission and play this game.

Features

Realistic city traffic
Smooth controls and good gameplay
Various types of school buses
Awesome bus driving challenges

School Bus Driver: Kids fun

Ratings-3.2
Installs- 100,000+
Size- 52M
Last updated- December 23, 2019

Your wait is over crazy driver!! Your favourite school bus game is here.

Pick and drop off students safely in this game. Remember to reach destination within the given time period. Follow the map for instructions to follow. Drive your school bus and show off your offroad driving skills as the master of offroad bus drivers.

Features

Beautiful 3D city Rushy Environment to Explore
Smooth and easy controls and fun gameplay
Realistic bus parking and driving controls

Download your favorite school bus driving games to face the realistic, but challenging scenarios. Be the best school bus driver, enjoy your game and improve your driving skills.

Download: 15 Best School Bus Driving Games 2020 [PDF]

8 Surprising Facts You Never Knew About GPS – Infographics

Posted on January 28, 2019 by TSB Super Admin

Global Positioning System or GPS which was earlier used only for navigation purpose for ships and airplanes is widely used nowadays in almost every aspect of life.

But still, there are many facts about GPS which we bet you didn’t know. Here are some of them.

GPS was first introduced in automobiles in 1996.
GPS was first used by US for military purposes.
GPS system uses the principle of Doppler Effect to trace locations.
GPS was called Navstar in the beginning and the first Navstar satellite was launched in 1978.
The basic idea of GPS was based on LORAN and Decca Navigation System, which were used during World War II.
Most people who have cars with built-in GPS use their phones for directions.
GPS is not just for navigation but it also can be used to obtain accurate time.
GPS is owned and placed under the control of the Department of Defense.

GPS has revolutionized today’s technology as it is becoming more interactive day-by-day and is useful in various areas.

Road Traffic Safety Rules In Lebanon – All You Need To Know

Posted on January 25, 2019 by TSB Super Admin

Lebanon has a population of 60, 00000 people of which 85% live in the urban areas. Lack of an efficient public transport system has resulted in an increase in passenger car vehicles on the road…

Irresponsible and negligent driving is the main cause of approximately 1200 deaths a year in traffic accidents alone. Poor road infrastructure also contributes to this statistic.

Traffic rules for drivers as well as pedestrians have been stipulated by the Government. But the authorities have been lax in implementing them.

The following are the rules to ensure driver discipline and safety on the roads.

Driving License Issuance

Driving in Lebanon is on the right-hand side of the road.
The minimum age to obtain a driving license in Lebanon is 18 years.
A driver needs to be 23 years to rent a car, Minimum age to drive commercial vehicles is set at 21 and school buses at 25
Driving Licenses are issued after the candidate passes a mandatory written and practical driving test. They are renewed every 10 years.

Driver rules

Drivers are to carry a valid driver’s license, registration and insurance documents while driving.
Drivers cannot drive motor vehicles without registration and license
Drivers cannot drive an impounded vehicle.
Drivers should comply with the traffic lights, should not overrun the red signal and stop when required
Drivers should give way to aged and disabled persons and students.
They should give priority to ambulances, fire engines, police and other government vehicles.
Drivers should not use radar detection methods.
Drivers should not drive under fatigue.
Drivers should not block intersections.
They should give preference to vehicles inside of a roundabout.
They should refrain from making illegal U-turns and performing acrobatics on the road

Speed limit

Speed limits set by the road safety authorities in Lebanon is a maximum of 50kph in urban areas and 100kph in rural areas.
Driving under the speed limit by 20Km/h is not allowed.
Driving over the speed limit by 60km/h attracts maximum fine, vehicle seizure and a jail term.
Over-speeding, racing and dangerous driving are not allowed and are punishable offences.

Drink/Drug driving

Driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs is prohibited.
Even though the legal limit in drinking and driving is 0.5g/l, the authorities have adopted 0% tolerance towards driving after drinking.
A graded fining system exists for driving under the influence of blood alcohol concentration levels of 0.5-0.8g/l, 0.8-1g/l, and for above 1g/l heavy fines, seizure of vehicle and jail term is imposed.
No open alcohol containers are permitted in a vehicle on road.

Vehicle safety rules

Seat belts are compulsory for both front and rear passengers in all vehicles.
Helmets are compulsory for cyclists and motor-cycle riders.
Cyclists should use side mirrors.
Cars should not have dark tinted windows.
Vehicles on the road should have their light on at all times.
Using mobile phones while driving is prohibited. A hands-free system can be used.
Signal lights and high beam lights are to be used only when necessary.
Hazard lights have to be switched on when the vehicle is broken down or when there is an obstruction on the road.
Hazard triangle in the vehicle is mandatory.
Dangling any part of the body outside while the vehicle is in motion is not allowed.
Registration plates have to be displayed clearly on the vehicles.

Passenger restrictions

Children under the age of 5 years have to be seated and buckled in a car seat.
Children under the age of 10 years should not be seated in the front seat and should not be transported on motor cycles

Parking regulations

On-street parking is normally allowed for a maximum of two hours.
Vehicles should not be parked in no-parking zones, pedestrian walkways and crossings or in slots reserved for the disabled.
Vehicles for sale should not be displayed or parked in public parking spaces.

Accident rules

A vehicle involved in an accident has to be moved to the side of the road
Causing accidents, not stopping immediately or performing a hit and run attract heavy fines, seizure of vehicles and jail terms.

Pollution rules

Vehicles with carbon emission beyond the legal limits are penalized.
Noise pollution and Littering are not permitted.

Pedestrian rules

They have to respect the traffic signal lights and use the pedestrian crossings
They are to use assigned bridges and tunnels to cross busy roads.
Entering and exiting vehicles 25 meters close to intersections, signals or roundabouts in not permitted.

Violation of each one of the above traffic rules in Lebanon is a punishable offence.

Fines ranging from 200,000 LL to 1,000,000LL are imposed on violators. Major and repeated traffic offences call for imprisonment and confiscation of vehicle and licenses.

If citizens of Lebanon strictly follow the comprehensive set of traffic rules fatality rate can be reduced.

A change in the attitude of drivers, strict implementation of the rules and a better understanding of safety issues is essential.

Many organizations have been formed to create an awareness of road safety among the people and drivers.

School Bus Drivers Training – 10 Tips For City Driving

Posted on January 23, 2019 by TSB Super Admin

Driving a vehicle within the city is not only difficult but also frustrating. When it comes to school buses the problem just gets multiplied. As buses come in lengths of up to 45 feet, maneuvering the big vehicles around the city corners can really be a challenging task.

In the case of school bus drivers, they are responsible for the safety of children on board. As a result, they become stressed, which then diminishes their ability to act effectively in an emergency.

The challenges faced by drivers are largely dependent on the city in which they drive through. However, proper training and following certain strategies can help minimize the probability of problems cropping up when they are on city roads.

1: Plan ahead before turning

As the turning radius of a school bus is more, it is not easy for the vehicle to get into the right lane for a turn in time. It is, therefore, of utmost importance that drivers must be aware of the upcoming turns and position of the vehicle properly ahead of time.

2: Minimize left turns

The drivers of many professional transportation companies are advised to avoid left turns as much as possible. School bus drivers can also follow this advice.

Left turns tend to raise the chances of side-on collisions with other vehicles. Schools that use software for deciding bus routes can include this as a criterion when finalizing routes for the school year.

3: Avoid applying brakes suddenly at signals

Studies show that traffic light cameras tend to increase the incidence of low-damage accidents in cities. Drivers often slam on the brakes in order to avoid jumping the stop signal.

This often results in rear-end as well as other minor collisions. It pays to sensitize school bus drivers to be aware of signal points and apply brakes early so that they don’t ram into the vehicle in front of them.

4: Fix more mirrors

When it comes to driving, blind spots are always a cause of concern. If the school bus drivers happen to notice blind spots in front of the vehicle or through the rear-view mirror, they should request authorities to fix more mirrors. Actually, the advantages of fixing more mirrors far outweigh the costs involved.

5: Make use of in-cab GPS if possible

When it comes to city driving, detours and accidents are part of life. However, school bus drivers should be properly trained to avoid them as much as possible.

In-cab GPS units enable school bus drivers to change their route and avoid encountering dangerous situations when driving within city limits. However, drivers should always keep their eyes fixed on the road and drive slowly when they follow detour signs.

6: Be aware of dangerous road conditions

Drivers must be aware of the road conditions and remain alert so as to avoid accidents. They should reduce the speed of the bus when repairs are being carried out on the routes they drive.

In addition, they must always maintain a safe distance between the bus and other objects on the road. This gives them enough time to respond in unpredictable situations.

7: Be conscious of the traffic signals and road signs

A driver should be conscious of the traffic signals and be conversant with the different road signs. Some of the important traffic signs are U-turns, one way, no horn zones, and prohibited area. If they remain alert when driving on the city, they will be able to avoid major accidents.

8: Examine school buses prior to taking them out

Before taking out the school bus on to the road, drivers must make it a habit to check the vehicle’s status to ensure a safe and comfortable journey for the students. They should carefully check the fuel levels, the condition of the tires and wipers, among other things.

9: Keep track of speeding limits

It is very important drivers must follow the specified speed limits because the safety of the students is at stake. Therefore, it is a good idea to control the speed limit of the school bus by setting the limit that is allowed.

10: Make sure others on the road notice them

School buses have been integrated with flashing lights and turn signals in order to help others on the road to notice them.

School bus drivers should use the right communication signals at the right time to enhance the safety of students, especially when they are boarding or getting down from the bus, the bus is in the parking lot, the weather conditions are bad.

Final Thoughts

Student safety should be given top most priority by all school bus drivers. As the increase in the number of students traveling by school buses and the nature and size of these buses pose challenges, the drivers have to assume a great deal of responsibility.

Along with the increase in congestion on the roads, the distractions have also multiplied tremendously.

School bus drivers begin their day by ensuring that the vehicle is in good condition, but they often overlook the most important aspect which is their own feeling of well-being.

Every driver should start their day feeling healthy and well-rested because safe driving on city roads is dependent on alertness and focus.

How School Bus Drivers Can Protect Special Needs Students From Getting Bullied

Posted on January 21, 2019 by TSB Super Admin

Bullying happens everywhere, but when it occurs in school buses it can be more dangerous because it is not possible for the child to move to a safer place.

A better understanding of bullying in school buses makes it possible to find or devise helpful solutions and protect the special needs students from being harmed by the bullies.

Why Bullies Often Choose the Bus

The school bus is the right place for bullies that want to pick on their peers. It is not an easy task to supervise the activities of every student at all times, especially if the bus driver is the only adult present in the bus.

When they are in the school bus, the special needs children cannot leave the situation, seek help, or protect themselves. Bullies know that nobody can quickly interfere and prevent them from bullying.

This encourages them to target helpless children that ride the school bus with them every day. This puts special needs children in a very vulnerable situation.

Signs of Bullying In School Bus

Students who are victims of bullying often are unwilling to seek help from adults. However, it is easy to make out from the common symptoms that many of them might display.

It is important, however, to keep in mind that all kids may react in the same manner when subjected to bullying and the reactions could be mild or severe.

Fear of riding the school bus or going to school
Looking for reasons to avoid travelling on the school bus
Coming to school or going back home with ripped clothes, losing things, or any other sign of abuse
Symptoms of anxiety or panic attacks that occur prior to boarding the school bus or in the mornings when getting ready to go on school days
Talking about a friend that is being bullied or referring to themselves being bullied
Avoiding similar situations, for example riding in cars along with many people

Special Needs Children Riding the School Bus

Among children with disabilities, those suffer from cerebral palsy are often bullied more than other special needs kids.

As these kids are especially vulnerable when riding the school bus, drivers have a key role to play in ensuring their safety on a daily basis. In fact, bus drivers can do a lot to prevent bullying.

Children suffering from cerebral palsy exhibit disabilities that vary from mild or moderate to severe. Such children often look different and may even find it difficult to get on to or off the school bus.

Children with severe disabilities may ride on a bus that is specially designed, but many mildly disabled children choose to ride with the normal kids. As their looks and movement are different, bullies often target these kids.

Special-Needs-Students-From-Getting-Bullied

The school bus may turn out to be a dangerous place for bully victims because they cannot escape and the bus driver cannot monitor everything that is going on behind him/her and stop the school bus for taking action.

How Can School Bus Drivers Protect Needs Students from Bullying

School staff, school admin, drivers, and parents are equally responsible for ensuring that special needs children are not bullied, but when they are riding the school bus the onus is on the driver.

Therefore, it is important to provide anti-bullying training to bus drivers. Apart from the training they receive and being part of the school-wide procedures and policies involving bullying, bus drivers can do a few other things and protect the special needs passengers:

1. Stop the bus safely so that they can react to bullying

When drivers sense that some random child is being bullied, they should stop the school bus at a safe place and then take assertive action. However, it is important that they remain calm.

2. Call the bully by his/her name

To stop bullying, the first action to be taken in most of the cases is approaching the bully in a calm manner and using his/her name to warn them verbally.

3. Call the officer in charge

If the verbal warning does not work, drivers should call the concerned officer in the school transportation department. This often helps to stop the bully.

4. Report all instances of bullying

It is of utmost importance that bus drivers report all incidents to authorities through the procedure outlined in the school’s policy. The availability of records makes it easy to handle the problem if it persists.

5. Drivers should get involved in Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)

Drivers who take special needs kids to and from school on the bus should be made part of IEP meetings.

This will enable them to have a better understanding as to how they should deal with special needs kids, and the care to be provided as a person involved in their lives on a daily basis.

6. Follow clear and simple rules

School bus drivers should specify and follow some rules so that bullying does not happen during the ride to and from the school.

They should enforce these rules calmly and indicate as to what consequences the bullies will face if they fail to follow the rules. This goes a long way in preventing negative behaviours in the bus.

7. Reinforce positive behaviours

The best way to promote positive behaviours is by recognizing good deeds. Drivers should make an effort to get to know the students they are taking to and from school on a daily basis. This helps to foster better behaviours and positive relationships.

8. Ask for a paraprofessional in the bus or a camera system, as needed

If the bullying problem persists and the driver is not able to manage alone, additional steps may be required to be taken to keep the special needs student safe. The presence of a paraprofessional in the bus might be helpful in protecting the differently abled students.

A camera might also be helpful, but these solutions come with a cost. Schools can evaluate the current status and decide on the best possible option. Ensuring maximum protection to the special needs children should be the ultimate goal of the concerned authorities.

Final Thoughts

School-Bus-Drivers-Can-Protect-Special-Needs-Students-From-Getting-Bullied — Image Credits: AngelSense

Bullying on school buses is actually a serious problem and bus drivers can contribute a lot to prevent the same. There is no doubt that they have to drive safely, but they also should create and maintain a positive and safe environment.

If a bus driver feels that he/she is not adequately equipped to deal with the problem of bus bullying, then they should talk to concerned authorities and get trained in dealing with special needs children and implementing anti-bullying policies.

How to respond to bullying on the school bus? Learn about the different practices drivers can take to protect special needs students from getting bullied. school-bus-drivers-protect-special-needs-students-bullied

15 School Bus Driver Quotes You Need to Know

Posted on January 18, 2019 by TSB Super Admin

Driving is always a challenging task for school bus drivers. They have to manage not only the school bus but also the children inside it. Driving a school bus needs complete attention as a small mistake can cause big problems.

Great school bus drivers not only just drive, they care for their students.

Here are certain quotes on school bus drivers which you must know…

1. Being a School Bus Driver Is Not Just A Job… It’s an Adventure!

2. Anyone Can Drive A Car But It Takes Someone Special to Drive a School Bus!

3. Be Nice To The School Bus Driver, It’s A Long Walk From Home To School!

4. If You Can Drive A School Bus You Can Do Anything!

5. Only A School Bus Driver Would Turn Their Back On A Bus Load Of Kids!

6. If You Think You Have Problems, Try Being A School Bus Driver

7. You Can’t Scare Me! I Drive A School Bus!

8. Finding A School Bus Driver Is Like Finding A Good Musician!

9. The Best Part Being School Bus Driver Is Having The Power To Stop Traffic

10. School Bus Drivers Are The People Who Transport Children To Their Future

11. If You Can Remain Calm, While All Around You Is Chaos…Then You Must A School Bus Driver

12. It’s A Good Day When A School Bus Driver Gets On The School-Bus With You

13. School Bus Drivers Are Always Calm Under Pressure

14. School Bus Drivers Are The People Who Are Respectful Of Others

15. If You Are In the Driver’s Seat, Your Love is the Least

School Bus Driver Safety – How Technology Can Play a Role

Posted on January 16, 2019 by TSB Super Admin

School bus drivers are given the huge responsibility of transporting the children to and from the school safely. Driving a school bus is a very serious job and often thankless. The driver is exposed to many an experience on and off the bus and their safety is of utmost importance.

Nowadays, the school fleets comes fitted with a number of technological aids and this helps them to stay safe as well as do their jobs to the best of their abilities. We review below a list of technologies and gadgets that help them in more than one way.

1: Digital Cameras

Safety enforcement is always a tough job. During most of the trips, on-bus behaviour of the students is a major distraction for the driver. Most drivers trim this problem by assigning seats to the students.

Digital cameras that are installed in modern school fleets help the driver to constantly monitor the situation inside the bus while simultaneously maintaining a watchful eye on the road.

The cameras are also endowed with the capability to record both audio and video of the happenings inside the bus. This spares the driver from having to turn back to find out what exactly happened.

These cameras are also equipped to capture the licence plate details of vehicles that pass close by the bus when it halts.

2: Bus Tracking Systems

Bus tracking systems provide the much-needed transparency that is otherwise required of the bus drivers in reporting where the bus is located at that point in time.

These systems not only work to notify parents and school authorities of the current location of the bus, but they also act to restrict harsh driving behaviours.

Parents monitor both unscheduled bus routes/ bus stops that the drivers may take and also monitor the speed of the bus. This aspect keeps the children and the drivers safe.

Bus tracking apps help to keep away distress calls from the parents that would otherwise be a distraction for the driver. The school bus tracking app helps to provide real-time data as regards approach time of a bus near the scheduled bus stop.

It also helps the driver to do his work with the concentration required to get his wards to the bus stops at the scheduled times.

3: Mirror Grid Systems

The latest school fleets come fixed with a grid of mirrors. This 7-mirror system helps the drivers to have a wide-angle view of the surroundings of the bus.

The electric grids that are present behind the mirrors help the drivers during the cold winters. The heat generated by the grid removes the fog and snow particles that get lodged on the mirror during the winters. It helps to enhance the driver’s surrounding vision.

4: Driver-controlled Bus Doors

The doors of today’s school buses can be controlled by the bus drivers with the touch of a button. The driver’s control in the opening and closing the school bus doors are helpful in more ways than one.

Firstly, the absence of manual operations keeps away unnatural twists and turns of the body and the problems arising thereof. Shoulder pain, arm injuries, and fatigue can be completely avoided. The annual door swings are nil.

5: Air-cushioned Driver Seats

The latest school fleets come with built in driver seats that are kept up with the help of air pressure. This keeps the seat at a comfortable position for the driver and provides enhanced lumbar support that leads to fewer back problems for the drivers in the long run.

6: Smaller Bus Engines

As a direct consequence of miniaturization that is taking place in all fields, bus engines are now smaller in size. The smaller size of the engine means a smaller hood. This improves the field of vision of the driver and enables him to see more of the surroundings.

7: Computerized Diagnostic Tools

Computerized diagnostic tools that inform the driver well in advance about the upcoming maintenance jobs of the vehicle are a boon to the drivers.

Wear-out of tires, replacement of non-working indicator lights, and other maintenance jobs, if informed to the driver in advance helps them to keep the children and their job safe.

Other issues that can give the drivers a feeling of preparedness include indications about transmission problems, oil tanks and their malfunction, exhaust systems’ alarms, etc.

8: Wi-Fi Connectivity

Wi-Fi connectivity in the bus can keep children engaged with the Internet and allow them to complete their lessons, homework or indulge in other intellectually gainful activities.

This keeps them from engaging in unruly behaviour which can distract the drivers and keep them from performing their duties.

9: Sensors

Installation of sensors in wireless devices will inform the drivers about the current status of brakes and emergency door systems. This prevents impending disasters.

Final Thoughts

Though skilled and careful driving is still the best preventative method to keep the kids safe during their ride on the school bus, technological aids, in the recent times have helped the drivers prevent many an accident.

Therefore it is important to install these technological gadgets and systems to make the school bus ride much safer than before.

How School Bus Drivers Can Help Protect Disabled Children

Posted on January 14, 2019 by TSB Super Admin

It’s the responsibility of the schools to ensure that children, especially those with special needs, are transported safely to and from schools on their school buses.

In this connection, it is important that schools follow certain guidelines when transporting children that need special care.

Further, schools should employ trained staff, make arrangements aides or nurses when needed, establish an emergency evacuation plan, and implement an infection control program.

In order to protect children with disabilities, drivers need to be familiar with the characteristic behaviour of such students.

Most often, children with disabilities such as cerebral palsy, autism, deafness, blindness, hearing impairment, orthopaedic impairments, emotional disturbance, and vision impairment have to be transported.

Children with disabilities need more protection than other kids as they are vulnerable to abuse and bullying on the school bus. The disabilities may be mild, moderate, or severe.

Some of the children might even find it challenging to get into and alight from the school bus. Students with severe disabilities might even have to be provided with special seating arrangements. School bus drivers have a key role to play in ensuring the safety of disabled kids on a daily basis.

School Bus Drivers – What Can They Do to Protect Disabled Children

In general,

Whenever the driver senses signs of bullying he/she should stop the vehicle at a safe place for taking necessary action.
Calling the bully by name and giving a verbal warning often results in the perpetrator stopping bullying. When verbal warning does not work, the driver should call for assistance.
Bus drivers should always report all incidents as outlined in the school policy statement. Recording of incidents helps in handling issues in a more effective manner if they persist.
As a person dealing with children on a daily basis, the bus driver should be aware of the scope of care needed to be provided for special children. Awareness about the needs of such children enables the driver to protect them in a better manner.
If required, drivers should ask for a paraprofessional to ride in the bus so that he/she can take care of them when the driver should focus on driving. A camera may also be helpful in this regard.
Drivers can enforce certain rules to prevent negative behaviours on the part of normal children.
Drivers could reinforce positive behaviours by complimenting and recognizing good behaviours.

When it comes to dealing with children with disabilities some of the ways in which a driver can provide protection are listed below.

Autism

Autistic children exhibit a wide range of behaviours. Some do not communicate, while some others exhibit emotional outbursts or abnormal fears or react abnormally to sound.

Drivers can ignore behaviours that do not hamper the safety of the bus. However, they should intervene when the behaviours have an impact on bus safety.

The intervention should be planned carefully. They should restrict themselves to giving just brief directions to deal with an inappropriate behaviour and avoid providing choices. Further, the direction should be given in a gentle but firm voice.

Deafness

Not all deaf students communicate in a similar manner. Some of them use the sign language, while some others are good at lip-reading. Deaf students capable of communicating with the driver pose fewer behavioural problems.

Drivers should familiarize themselves with the student’s preferred method of communication. He or she should also keep a pencil and paper ready to deal with children having this disability and communication issues.

Students with hearing impairment may not respond in a consistent manner to verbal communications and they may or may not use the sign language.

It is, therefore, important to establish good communication practices with such students to be able to protect them in difficult situations.

Read Also : Guidelines for Transportation of Students with Special Needs

Orthopaedic Impairment

Children with orthopaedic impairments often require specialized services. Many students require specialized seating and special equipment. They may also need physical help.

When it comes to dealing with children with orthopaedic impairments, drivers should have a clear idea of the needs. This is essential in order to provide protection to such children.

Other Health Impairments

This category includes children that have limited strength. In appearance, they may not differ from non-disabled children.

In order to deal with such children, it is important that the driver knows about each child’s disability and how it manifests when he/she is on the bus.

The drivers should be given adequate in-service training as children with health impairments are often transported along with others.

Vision Impairment

Children with impaired vision may or may not need special services. The requirement for the driver’s intervention depends on the ability of a student to function independently.

Drivers should carefully assess the ability of each student and provide assistance as needed. In order to ensure their safety, drivers should consistently maintain the daily routine, including assignment of the same seat.

They should be capable of communicating in a friendly manner and provide precise directions to the children.

Differently abled or disabled children often have to contend with a lot of problems on the school bus. Therefore, bus drivers are responsible for dealing with them in the right manner and ensuring their safety.

It is their job to protect the children. Of course, they have to drive safely, but they are responsible for creating and maintaining a positive and safe environment.

Bus drivers who are not adequately prepared to deal with differently abled students should seek training in order to transport them safely to and from the school.

A Simple Guide to Auto Route Optimization in School Buses

Posted on January 11, 2019 by TSB Super Admin

The world we live in is no longer as safe as it used to be. Crimes, especially against young children, are on the rise. Hardly a day or two passes without any crime against children being reported.

In addition, mishaps and accidents are a threat to the lives of students. As a result, parents are worried more than ever about the well being of their school going children.

Due to this reason schools have sought the help of technology to ensure the safety of the students who use their school bus to commute to and from school.

While cameras help school authorities to keep an eye on children when they are within the campus, the tracking software enables them to ensure their safety during their trip to and back from the school. The software also enables parents to keep track of their children through their mobile devices.

As such, the aim of this post is to provide some information on school bus auto route optimization. So, let us start by understanding as to what auto route optimization actually means.

Auto Route Optimization – What Is It

Optimization of the school bus route is a process wherein the school transportation administrator generates one set of routes to ensure that all children are transported to and from school safely and on time.

Bus route optimization enables schools to reduce the number of buses and the distance to be travelled, thus contributing in saving fuel and other costs. It may not be possible to achieve this always, but it is certainly one of the important goals.

School bus routes can be optimized in many ways. A simple stop optimization could result in savings in running miles. It involves keeping the same stops on the routes and changing the order in which each stop is visited.

Another option is to observe stops on several routes and determine whether grouping them differently could result in a reduction in the distance travelled.

However, care should be taken not to overload the bus by assigning too many students in each route. Further, enough time should be allocated to buses to complete a trip.

As such, a number of components have to be considered while optimizing school bus routes. It is not an easy task to keep track of every variable in mind and manually optimize the school bus routes.

It is, therefore, best done with the help of software with built-in artificial intelligence capability. This software makes use of an algorithm to optimize the routes.

How Does School Bus Auto Route Optimization Work?

The route optimization software automatically creates routes on the basis of the specifications that the users provide. The parameters that the users may incorporate into the algorithm may include the following:

The maximum time a student should spend on the bus.
The maximum time allowed for the entire route. The starting point and destination is also taken into account in this case. The preferred pickup point in each school bus route may also be included as a parameter.
Specify the capacity.
Group the students either by school or route
Consider whether the bus should stop at each of the school in the route or at transfer points.
Choose buses to be used from the fleet.
Specify the size of the bus to be used on a specific route.

Routes are often created on the basis of the students to be included. Students may be added based on the school in which they are studying and the boundary or zone they are being transported to.

Once a route is finalized, it can be viewed on a map with each and every stop clearly marked. Reports can also be printed and reviewed. The software allows this process to run until the optimum route is determined.

The important aspect to be kept in mind is that this is just the starting point. Even after activating a route, it can be manipulated to suit the needs of the school.

What Are The Benefits Of Auto Route Optimization?

School bus operators often find it challenging to optimize the operational costs. They can reduce their costs only by optimizing their routes. The auto-routing ability of the software helps to do exactly that and derive a number of benefits. They include the following:

The built-in AI capability of the software provides auto suggestions on the most fuel-efficient routes. In addition, it carries out efficiency checks to make sure that all the current school bus routes are operating at their optimum capacity.

A lot of recorded data related to routes, pick up points, school buses and their seating capacity are made use of for the purpose. Vehicle assignments are often initiated by considering the current data collated in the registration forms.

This feature is very helpful in efficiently managing multiple pick-up points in one route. If a kid that is being picked up in a route changes location, the system comes up with a contingency plan and suggests the pickup and drop points.

The route optimization feature of the software also helps to identify the shortest route. Pick up and drop points are suggested based on the earlier points assigned. It is carried out after thorough analysis and suggests the best pick-up point for each every student in the shortest route.

The software provides school bus operators not only with feedback but also suggestions for achieving time and fuel efficiency.

The school bus auto route optimization software spares the in-charge of the efforts involved in manually allocating the routes.

It also allows the school bus drivers to drive peacefully as they are always provided with an updated route map that clearly indicates the pickup as well as drop points.

When a school wants to redistrict and implement optimize routes the software enables them to tweak the routes. Through optimization, it is possible to eliminate few trips and this allows the school to save substantial amount of money.

It is the key features of the auto route optimization that make it extremely useful: They include the following:

1. Pick up and drop points are taken into account when suggesting a route.

2. Optimizes the pickup points and improves efficiency.

3. Automatically updates the best pick-up order, hence saving time and fuel consumption.

4. Auto optimization aligns multiple pick-up points in one route to create the shortest route.

5. Centralization of data enables the determination of the shortest route to reduce the distance travelled.

6. The route optimization application automatically modifies the current seating capacity based on the number of students in a route.

7. The beauty of the system is that it automatically collects the data whenever the pickup or drop off point is modified.

9. It is also capable of suggesting alternate best routes to avoid traffic.

Finally, the software may also be employed for the purpose of generating new ideas with respect to route optimization. Using the school bus auto route optimization software it is also possible to identify new ways to cut routes and save money.

7 Tips To Improve Fuel Efficiency In School Buses

Posted on January 9, 2019 by TSB Super Admin

School fleets in the United States consume millions of gallons of fuel annually. Transportation costs make up for a large part of the expenditure and affect school budgets.

Fuel efficiency and fuel economy are, therefore, very important factors in the operation of school bus fleets. The testing of fuel economy is a complicated procedure and only effective testing methods can render accurate results.

However, fuel-efficient school buses share some important common features (in the body of the bus as well as external to it) and some of them are listed below.

1: Driver’s Behaviour

How a school bus driver steers the vehicle is the foremost factor to be considered when discussing fuel efficiency. The driving behaviour has an impact of almost 30 percent on the fuel efficiency of the vehicle.

Drivers who avoid sudden acceleration and excess idling have vehicles exhibiting higher fuel efficiency.

For every hour of idling of the engine, the fuel economy is known to reduce by almost 1 percent. Idling can be controlled with the help of technology.

Installing a vehicle idle shutdown timer on the bus will be helpful. This helps to reduce emissions and improve fuel efficiency by limiting the time that the engine remains in the idling mode.

Smooth acceleration by the drivers after ignition ensures that engine runs in the peak efficiency zone. If they operate the engine below optimum range levels, carbon build-up occurs and over time the fuel efficiency decreases.

Fuel efficiency is higher when the drivers do not hit the brakes regularly. It is important to coast whenever possible.

2: Condition of the tires

It’s a good idea to choose tires that are designed to have a longer life. This is because the normal buses are subjected to harsher bus-duty cycles.

The scrub loads of school buses tend to be higher on account of frequent starting and stopping of the bus. School buses should have tires designed to have a longer life, they should have a deeper tread.

Tires should have proper inflation. Under-inflated and over inflated tires can reduce fuel economy and lessen the lifespan of the tires

3: Synthetic Lubricants

Synthetic lubricants when used on the axle and transmission help to improve fuel economy by 1 percent. The axle lubricant when used extends drain interval.

Synthetic lubricants have a better flow at lower ambient temperatures than mineral oils and tend to be more efficient at these temperatures. However, care has to be taken not to exceed fill levels as this works to decrease fuel efficiency.

Read Also : 7 Advantages of Having a School Bus Routing Software

4: Axle Alignment

Improper alignment of the axle contributes to reduction of the fuel economy. Misalignment increases drag and tires get worn out faster. It also reduces fuel economy by 0.6 percent.

5: Proper Specifications

Fuel efficiency is heavily dependent on proper component specifications that have to be stated during the purchase of the buses. The school authorities seek the help of technical experts to specify and install the right components that would help to improve fuel efficiency.

• Selection of a fuel-efficient engine is the first step. Latest models are more fuel efficient than their pre-2007 counterparts.

• Use of the fuel economy mode in auto-transmission vehicles serves to improve fuel efficiency by up to 5 percent. Other features of auto transmission that can be used to improve fuel efficiency include the use of shift energy management/transmission retarders.

• The shift energy management systems combined with improved torque delivery in modern school fleets improve fuel efficiency. The rear axle ratio of such buses is lower and this maintains vehicle response.

6: Utilize Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs)

Use of HEVs is a great way to improve fuel efficiency. These fleets provide substantial savings in fuel when compared to their non-electrical counterparts.

The fuel efficiency of HEVs is high and is improved by as much as 50 to 60 percent. The selected technology (plug-in and non-plug-in) also contributes to a small extent.

7: Convert to modern Diesel Engines

Diesel engines built in these times are cleaner than the engines built in the 1980s. Diesel is undoubtedly the most cost-effective fuel that can be used by the bus engines.

It provides better economy than other natural gas alternatives. Many of the older buses are retrofitted with the newer engines as retrofitting techniques have also improved over the years.

The modern yellow fuel efficient diesel-powered school fleets are more reliable, safe and durable; the diesel fuel provides 25 to 30 percent additional mileage which increases their fuel efficiency.