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Traffic Violations: Definition, Types, Consequences and Examples

Posted on November 29, 2019 by TSB Super Admin

Traffic violations, whether it is minor or major are serious offenses, which could even cause endanger the lives of the drivers and pedestrians.

Is driving your passion? Or are you into the driving profession?

This blog is mainly for anyone who drives but does not consider traffic violations as a serious issue.

Definition

Traffic violations can be easily defined as an act that violates the traffic laws of the concerned state and country.

With the rise in the cases of traffic rule breaks, accident cases also rise.

Never consider breaking traffic rules as something very minor. Remember that road is for every user and the rules are the same for all.

It is now very common for vehicle drivers to get fined, issued traffic tickets or even arrested because of traffic violations.

And in recent years, punishment for breaking traffic rules and punishment are also getting harsher.

Such traffic violations take place when drivers break laws that control vehicle operation on roads and highways.

Also Read: 24 Useful Apps For College Students

Check out these reports to know how common is such traffic violations-

INDIA – Based on a report in Hindustan Times, from January to October 2019, the Noida district traffic police have issued more than 6 lakh challans for different violations leading to the collection of ₹35 crores.
UAE – Arabic daily has reported the Abu Dhabi Police’s statement that 111 violations were recorded in 2019 for school buses for not turning on the ‘Stop’ sign.
USA – Joe Tax Payers reports that in the U.S, around 35 million speeding tickets are issued each year, which is about 93,000 tickets each day, or 65 each minute.

Types of Traffic Violations

There are two types of violations

Minor
Major

1) Minor Violations

The minor type includes parking violations such as parking in an unauthorized space including in front of a fire hydrant, at the handicapped zone, in front of the driveway and in a no-parking zone.

2) Major Violations

Major violations include more serious issues such as reckless driving and accident issues.

Traffic laws vary by specific state, city, and region. Anyone driving must make sure that they are aware of the legal rights and security options, and such options will vary depending on the charges.

Consequences of Traffic Violations

While minor violations lead to smaller fines and punishment, major ones will result in larger fines and in certain cases, even the accused may have to go to jail as well.

At times the results of such violations can be deadly serious and can lead to further legal consequences.

The more the traffic tickets a driver gets, the worse will be any one’s driving record.

Based on the Reports of News18: “Every Hour 17 People Die in India Due to Road Accident”

With the increase in the number of points, there are also possibilities for the drivers to lose their licenses.

Insurance charges may also increase when you break traffic laws. While applying for new insurance or while renewing insurance, insurance companies will check the driving record and poor records may be denied insurance.

Violations can also result in a crime when a driver causes an accident, but leaves the scene or driving without a cense or driving when drunk or while using drugs.

Charging fines, punishment, and traffic tickets vary with where you live.

In most legal cases, those charged with a traffic felony will be recommended to appear in the court for the accusation.

During accusation, the prosecution must come up with the evidence to prove that the accused has committed the traffic violation.

Examples

While a moving violation occurs when a vehicle in motion disobeys traffic law, a non-moving violation is connected to parking vehicles.

Some of the common violations of traffic laws are –

Over speed
Not using the seat belt
Not signaling
Avoiding stop signs and red light
Distracted driving
No proper vehicle registration
Passing other vehicles in a no-passing zone
No valid driver’s license
Driving under drugs/alcohol influence
Driving in the carpool lane
Driving around without stopping for school bus
Failure to have updated insurance
Not stopping for pedestrians

Of all these violations, speed limit and seat belt violations are reported to be most common.

Also Read: 90+ Math Riddles For Kids

Tips to Drive Safe

Here’s how you can drive safely in traffic

Follow rules on speed limits
Make sure to wear seat belts
Never drive under alcohol consumption
Check out traffic signals
Remember to keep headlights on while driving
Avoid mobile usage or any distractions while driving

Conclusion

It is quite obvious that traffic violations may lead to severe mishaps which in turn affect your easy life.

Don’t try to break traffic rules and be safe.

In most countries, punishments for breaking traffic rules are strict which leads to temporary as well as permanent dismissal of license.

Be sure that you are not breaking any traffic rules.

15 Common Road Hazards and how to deal with them

Posted on October 25, 2019 by TSB Super Admin

Nowadays, many qualified drivers consider driving as an easy task and seem to have no worries about it. But, the fact is that there are numerous road hazards in driving and they are still growing.

This blog discusses 15 common road hazards and the best ways to prevent them.

1. Hydroplaning or Skidding Out of Control

Skidding or sliding of cars occurs when there is a lack of friction between tire and road. This usually occurs when driving in wet or icy conditions, stopping suddenly or entering a turn at a high speed.

Preventive Measures:

You need to adjust your driving in adverse conditions. You need to slow down if the road conditions are anything less than ideal. You should never try to jerk the wheel, as this may cause you to quickly lose control of the vehicle. In addition, you need to maintain your tires properly. This will reduce the chances of hydroplaning.

2. Tire Blowout

It occurs when a tire bursts that is accompanied by a loss of air pressure. In fact, most blowouts are caused by too little air pressure. This in turn allows the tire to flex beyond elastic limits until it overheats to the point where the rubber loses its bond to the internal fabric and steel cord reinforcement.

Preventive Measures:

You need to focus on controlling your vehicle and getting safely to the side of the road to assess the situation.

Always be careful of debris on the road, look far in front of you for road debris. Slow down, if you see any and change the lane safely away from debris. You should maintain your tires properly as weak tires are more likely to a blowout.

3. Car Lands in Lake

This is when your car falls into a deep part of the water.

Preventive Measures:

You need to drive defensively and at a safe speed whenever you are near water. You should be very careful when driving in flood conditions. You need to avoid flood-prone roads in heavy rains.

If you find yourself in rising water, then get your family out of the car and move to higher ground.

4. Toddler Climbs Out of Car Seat

It occurs when the toddler unbuckles his/ her car seat belt and stands up in the back of the car.

Preventive Measures:

You should never engage in discussions with your child about why he/she can’t get out of his car seat.

Instead, you need to tell your child that it is not allowed. You should also make sure that the harness is snug enough.

5. Baby Starts Wailing

It happens when your baby starts to scream and wail while you are driving and you may not be able to console him/ her.

Preventive Measures:

If you are with your spouse, then you need to take turns riding in the back alongside the baby. You need to play with your baby and keep him/her engaged with soft toys, rattles, and books.

When you are going on long road trips with your baby, you need to take frequent breaks to accommodate his/her needs and to keep you from feeling frazzled.

Also Read: Top 18 Road Safety Rules to Teach Your Children

6. Car Slams into You

It happens when a driver coming from the opposite direction runs a red light and fails to see you and his car accidentally hits your front fender, sending plastic, metal, and glass into the air.

Preventive Measure:

You need to drive defensively by staying fully alert on the road. You should not eat, apply makeup, or use a cell phone while driving, and never get behind the wheel if you are sleep-deprived or have been drinking. Never drive too closely behind another vehicle.

You need to keep a safe following distance while driving.

Use the three-second rule to measure the safe following distance: – When the car ahead of you passes a fixed object such as a sign, fence, corner or overpass, you need to start counting seconds and at least three seconds need to pass before your car passes the same object.

You need to brake firmly before you collide, in the case of an unavoidable crash.

7. Fog Clouds Your View

These road hazards occurs when the fog completely blocks your vision and makes it difficult to see even the traffic light.

Preventive Measures:

Avoid driving in foggy conditions. You must reduce the speed of your car if you encounter unexpected fog.

You should open your windows to know the traffic. Always be patient and never switch lanes if you don’t have to.

You should never stop on a busy road in a dense fog. This will put you at risk of being hit.

8. Bicyclists

It is most common for a cyclist to get hit by a vehicle.

Preventive Measure:

You need to give bicyclists plenty of room and keep an eye out for them. In fact, some bicyclists tend to drive too closely to cars.

Therefore, you need to keep a safe distance from bicyclists on the road.

9. Small Animals

These road hazards occur when you accidentally hit a small animal while driving your car.

Preventive Measure:

In this case, you must weigh your potential loss of life against theirs. You need to be extra careful when trying to avoid them. Never put your life or vehicle in danger.

When you are about to hit a small animal, you need to brake rather than swerving to avoid it as swerving can lead to a worse collision with a tree or an oncoming vehicle.

10. Pedestrians

Pedestrians are greatly vulnerable to being hit by vehicles and bicycles. A person who jaywalks or recklessly cross a street creates a hazard for themselves and drivers.

Here are a few safety tips for pedestrian:

When walking at night, you need to wear reflective clothing. It alerts the drivers that you are on the side of the road.
You need to walk with a flashlight. This alerts vehicles and cyclists that you are on the sidewalk. However, you need to keep your flashlight pointed towards the ground.
You need to walk on the sidewalks.
When you are walking with your dogs or any other pets, try to keep them on a short leash. You must also ensure that they cannot slip their heads out of their collars or escape their harnesses. You need to walk in between the road and your pet.
You need to cross only when the walking signal is displayed.
Pedestrians should avoid using mobile phones while crossing the road.
Drivers should be aware of their surroundings. They must focus on driving safely in a pedestrian dense area such as a shopping center.

11. Construction Zones

Road construction zones are a deadly road hazards for workers, motorists, and pedestrians.

Preventive Measure:

When you come across a construction zone, you need to slow down and drive carefully. You must be prepared to safely change lanes and watch out for road workers.

12. Potholes

Potholes can be highly dangerous when some drivers try to swerve around a pothole and get into accidents.

Preventive Measures:

If you see a pothole on the road, keep a firm grip on your steering wheel. You need to slow down and if you feel it is safe, try to drive around the pothole.

13. Large Trucks

These road hazards occur when a passenger vehicle collides with large trucks.

Preventive Measures:

It is recommended that if you are following a truck, stay out of its blind spots or “NoZone” to the sides and rear.

You should avoid following a truck too closely. You need to position your vehicle; which makes it possible for the truck to see it in his or her side mirrors.

A truck merging into traffic requires more time to accelerate and reach a normal speed than a car’s needs.

You must be prepared to slow down to allow the truck to merge safely. If you encounter a truck coming from the opposite direction, you need to keep as far as possible to the side in order to avoid a sideswipe accident and to reduce the wind turbulence between the two vehicles.

Truck drivers usually have to swing wide to the left to safely make a right turn. You need to give them plenty of room, and never cut in between them and the curb or shoulder to the right.

Also Read: 6 Ways to Reduce School Zone Traffic Congestion

14. When Children are Nearby Walking or Playing

Children lack the capacity to assess the situations or circumstances shrewdly. They do not know how dangerous moving vehicles are and can suddenly run to chase a ball across the street, or simply to go home.

Preventive Measure:

Whenever you see children around while driving, try to reduce the speed of the vehicle and prepare to stop.

15. Blinded by Glare

It is when the glare from the headlights of a car coming from the opposite direction with high beams falls directly on your eyes. This can lead to blurriness and this temporary blindness often leads to accidents.

Preventive Measure:

You need to check your eyesight on a regular basis and if you wear spectacles or contact lenses, then keep them up-to-date.

Older people should avoid night driving and if it is necessary, then they need to drive slowly.

Always choose to drive on the slow lane on multilane highways. You should drive slowly and adjust your speed to the reach of your headlights.

Looking down toward the right side of the road helps you from being blinded by the high beams that directly fall into your eyes. You should also concentrate on the edge of the lane or the painted edge line until the vehicle passes.

Conclusion

A driver should be careful while driving to avoid serious road hazards that may occur at any time.

Driving is not an easy job, it should be done with focus. So next time when you start your vehicle be careful and move safe.

School Bus Transportation Security – 18 Practices to Follow

Posted on May 15, 2019March 28, 2024 by TSB Super Admin

School buses are considered to be the safest means of transportation for students in every country, mainly because these buses meet federal regulation.

Each country follows its own standards and principles in maintaining safety in school bus transportation. According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) standards, school buses should be different in design and must be protected by the law, unlike passenger vehicles.

The administration also recommends compartmentalization as an ideal option for large buses to protect students from crashes. At the same time, small school buses should come with lap or shoulder belts for all seats, which provide better security.

According to the Roads and Transport Authorities across the globe, school buses

should not exceed the maximum speed of 80 km per hour
must come with red, yellow and other light indicators system to alert when the bus stops
should feature mirrors system that shall show all sides of the bus
floor must be covered by combustible, non-slippery rubber
must accommodate electronic door opening and closing mechanism under driver’s control
should implement a speed control device that adheres to the standards provided by the schools

Based on the standard school bus transportation guidelines followed in different countries, let us discuss 18 best practices that improve student’s safety in school buses.

For Drivers

As school bus accidents are rising, drivers need to be very cautious to prevent such disasters. The irresponsible behavior of the drivers’ is considered to be a key factor that causes such accidents.

1. Make sure that the bus you drive include all sort of safety features including stop arms and flashing lights, cross-view mirrors and emergency exits

2. Also check for stop arms, bus-empty signs, secure seating, first-aid box and fire extinguishers

3. Focus on high crash standards and rollover protection features

4. Check whether the bus is parked in a safe area

5. Pre-trip inspections should also be conducted consistently and thoroughly

6. Follow certain safety procedures that would be helpful to escape from any hazards just like active shooting or hijacking

7. Also let the students know those safety features so that they are sure of their security.

For Parents

Parents are responsible for educating their kids on key basic rules of safety. They must make sure to take the children to the stop at least five minutes early before the scheduled time of the bus. They should –

8. Make the children familiar with their stop and educate children on the importance of traffic safety

9. Teach your kids to stand a few steps away from the road and get into the bus only after it comes to a complete stop

10. Recommend using handrails when they are getting in to and even while getting down from the bus and tell them to fasten seat belts if it’s available

11. Ask them to take the help of the driver in case if anything gets dropped out of the bus and they have to get back them

12. Teach the importance of seat belts in preventing injuries in case of any accident and ask them to go directly to a seat as soon as they get in to the school bus

13. Also train kids to discuss with them or with the school management of any offences committed by the driver or students

For Schools

School authorities can consider implementing certain policies that ensure student transportation safety such as

14. Allowing only authorized drivers and assigned vehicles to enter and leave the school premises

15. Using technology and artificial intelligence options to prevent any hijacking or bus theft

16. Make sure that a staff is strictly present in the bus

17. Provide periodic training for drivers on how to handle students as well as any situation in the bus

18. Emergency evacuation training of a school bus helps students, drivers and support staff to handle any critical situation

Some schools have installed combi-booster rear transmitter device that provides building access cards that are meant to secure the buses as well as the yard.

Once the building access card is inserted into the device, gate will open only if it perfectly matches the combination of bus and driver for that specific time slot to enter or exit the yard.

Schools can also take advantage of advanced software options available to manage tasks such as bus fare collection, unplanned trips, routing and more.

For schools that consider outsourcing their transportation tasks, make sure to choose a company with experience in achieving streamlined transportation operations.

GPS Trackers Help Schools and Parents Track School Bus

High-definition GPS systems are now available that help parents and school administrators to track the correct location of the school bus, in case of any delay or missing.

With real-time details, parents can also enjoy the peace of mind that comes from realizing that their kids are safe. An ideal GPS tracking device can help to

know whether a particular student is present on the assigned bus or have got off the bus
track any school bus routes
notify any discrepancies that occurred

These GPS tracking apps on mobiles can offer both security and convenience.

Apps along with GPS tracking devices helps parents of all classes and even special education students to get on-time updates of the bus routes – to and from school. They can also be aware of any weather or traffic delays.

Now most buses also feature cameras that help school officials to solve theft or any other mishappenings. Cameras are also helpful in finding other drivers who make any fuss by ignoring these stop signs.

While using cameras in buses, schools should also educate their employees on ways to use the video system perfectly.

Why School Bus Drivers Deserve Our Respect

Posted on April 27, 2019 by TSB Super Admin

The primary duty of the School Bus Driver is the transportation of students to and from school regularly. The parents and the school entrust their children to the school bus driver for safe and secure transportation. He has to be committed to his profession in order to work to the satisfaction of all concerned.

A school bus driver’s job is considered an easy, simple task and not considered worthy of mention. The stress and strain undergone by the drivers in the seemingly simple task of transportation are not to be neglected.

They deserve enormous respect for the one single fact that they are the safe transporters of the nations young.

School Bus Driver – Role

The role of a school bus driver is a multi-faceted one. His responsibility is not limited to mere driving. In addition to possessing a valid driver’s license he needs to both possess driving and inter-personal relationship skills.

Driving skills include knowledge of traffic rules and experience in driving heavy vehicles. Ability to stay focused on the road and to remain alert at all times is a necessity for safe driving.

School-Transport-Software--Ensure-enhanced-student-safety

School bus drivers interact with students, parents, teachers, school authorities, transport companies, other drivers on the road on a daily basis.

The driver’s attitude and behavior have a large impact on the relations with each one of them. The expectations from a school bus driver are many and the challenges faced by him from various quarters are even greater.

Expectations

The school bus driver is expected to be a perfect time-manager. Sticking to designated routes and being punctual at bus stops and on-time arrival at school is of daily concern to the driver.

A slight deviation in timings caused due to traffic blocks, accidents or even late arrival of children at stops invites the wrath of both parents and school.

slight deviation in timings caused due to traffic blocks, accidents or even late arrival of children at stops invites the wrath of both parents and school.

School bus drivers are the first point of contact for parents each day. Since the bus drivers have a one to one interaction with the parents, they are required to be pleasant and smiling always.

They have to be kind and polite with the students and parents. This will assure the parent that there child is in good hands.

The driver has to be positive and dedicated to his job. An understanding of his prime responsibility of the safe transportation of children is necessary to ensure his commitment.

School Bus Driver Challenges

Students

School bus drivers are responsible for the hundreds of children riding the buses to school and back. The safety of the children on-board their buses is a source of constant worry to them.

The biggest challenge for the school bus driver lies in driving a bus-load of 50 noisy children seated behind him, with only one mirror above his head to check their behavior.

The students keep talking, laughing, shouting, crying, fighting among themselves. Some of them will be eating, walking up and down the aisle, ripping seats and some with special needs. Unruly behavior of students on buses is very common.

Students do not give enough respect to bus drivers. Students insult, use swear words and accuses the drives when he tries to discipline them.

At times, the drivers have to stop the buses to quiet the children and assure minimum disturbance before he proceeds further. This causes delays in the time schedules.

The students are disrespectful by leaving garbage in the bus to be cleaned by the drivers later. The students feel they have the liberty to do anything once outside the school campus. They are a disturbance to their riding compatriots who are quiet and disciplined and want to enjoy a safe ride.

School bus drivers do not expect impeccable behavior from youngsters. They only require them to have peaceful conversations without any disturbance.

The drivers, while keeping an eye on the students, need to drive safely, watching out for traffic on all sides. He has to comply with road signs, traffic signals, speed limits and crossings. The driver’s stress is compounded in adverse weather conditions.

The boisterous and noisy students on the bus are a major cause of distraction to the drivers.The school bus driver has to monitor and maintain a level of discipline on the bus to minimize distractions. A moment of inattention can imperil the lives of the young children under his care.

Parents

Despite all the effort taken by the school bus driver to maintain cordial relations with all, he is faced with countless problems from parents. He feels misunderstood and unappreciated by them.

Parents are always defensive when the driver points out the misconduct of their ward. This gives the child the feeling that he can misbehave and the driver is not an authority to be obeyed.

Prima facie the driver is blamed for any mishap on the bus by students, parents and school.The child’s version of the disciplinary measure meted out to him by the school bus driver very often upsets the parents. Parents react without learning the facts of the situation. They fail to give the driver the benefit of doubt.

The driver is usually faulted for non-tactful handling of the situation. This minimizes the impact of the wrong-doing and the student continues to engage in dangerous activities.

Parents can communicate with drivers through the special windows, but very often they barge into the bus blocking the entry passage. They interfere in fights among students and directly admonish those involved with their child.

School

The school bus drivers are reprimanded by the school administration for minor accidents, short delays, route deviations, faulty records. Many a time, the drivers are not given a fair hearing for their lapses. Reasons beyond the school bus drivers control are very often not given due consideration.

The cumbersome procedure in reporting of misbehavior of children on the bus does not elicit the desired result. The school bus driver reports misconduct.

The students are then removed from the bus. Parents complain and the students are re-instated. The driver’s efforts to maintain a level of decorum is disregarded.

Employing an annoyed, de-motivated, frustrated and distracted driver compromises the safety of children on board the bus.

Personal grievances

The drivers have to deal with malfunctioning equipment in the bus like cameras, alarms, sensors etc. They are not trained sufficiently to handle medical emergencies or special needs children. Quick and ready access to their superiors is limited.

Long hours behind the wheels and irregular food habits cause health challenges in them. Stress, insomnia, obesity, muscular pains and gastric disorders are common ailments among the drivers.

Why the drivers deserve respect

All these factors show how exhausting the school bus driver’s job is. Every day offers something new and unstructured. Their performance against all odds is commendable.

School bus drivers need to be respected and appreciated for reaching students safely to school and back, amidst daunting circumstances inside and outside the bus.

The students need to be made aware of the difficult job that the drivers handle. They have to be taught that their safety is in the hands of the driver. Parents and school have to inculcate in them a respect for drivers.

The thoughtless complaints raised against the drivers lower their morale and motivation to perform. It would be beneficial to school bus drivers and authorities if due consideration is given to how challenging it is to navigate a cabin filled with young children through traffic and adverse weather while simultaneously maintaining discipline and order in the bus.

It is customary for school authorities to reward exemplary students and compliment teachers. The system of transportation is often overlooked until something bad occurs. They should be equated with the other staff in the school system.

The drivers do not seek any special recognition. They need to be listened to. Their requests should be heeded.All that the school bus drivers require is to feel included, that they are an important part of student education.

This dedicated group of drivers should be thanked profusely and praised for their efforts in safely transporting the students to school and back.

School Students Using Public Transportation – Pros and Cons

Posted on December 24, 2018 by TSB Super Admin

The decision to send our kids through public transportation (buses/trains) is, at the outset, a simple one. Most parents would, if they had infinite time and money, choose to drop them off themselves.

Sadly though, this is not the case for a large majority. With limited time and money, juggling responsibilities, they do a cost-benefit analysis. Interestingly enough, these are not the only reasons why the decision is taken.

While the alternatives to public transportation include the children cycling or walking to schools themselves, we will be primarily concerned with private cars (including carpooling) as the choice of public transportation, by default, assuming that there is some distance to be covered to reach the school.

Pros of Using Public Transportation

Minimum ambiguity, Maximum discipline

There won’t be any last minute dashes due to a parent’s hectic schedule. There is a scheduled stop at a scheduled time and the child needs to be there.

If the child doesn’t reach the stop on time, he/she will have to wait for the next bus. Through trial and error, the child knows for certain which bus she needs to catch.

A Multitude of Choices

The child has several choices for spending his/her time. From enjoying the solitude to making friends and spending time with them, to spending time reading or studying, the child makes the time of his/her own.

A Question of Friendship

Studies have shown that the adults who have close long-term friendships do better than their less social counterparts. This is especially important as the age when the child is attending middle school and/or high school is when intimate friendships are most often born.

Public transportation provides space for socialization and making friends with other children through frequent and regular interactions.

A Dollar Saved is a Dollar Earned

Several families have significant financial constraints. Public transportation is a (relatively) safe option for them to send their kids to school. This becomes even more important if their neighbours are sending their kids to the same school through the same means.

Stronger, Faster, Fitter

While this can’t be compared to children walking or cycling to school, children who travel to school via some mode of public transportation are fitter. This is shown through studies which reveal that public transit users, on average, take 30% more steps per day.

A Question of Responsibility

Children who use public transport to go to school tend to become more independent and responsible at an earlier age than their peers. While public transportation may lead to nervousness among the parents, this quickly disappears as the child learns and demonstrates responsibility.

A Benefit to Society

Apart from the increased car traffic and pollution and all the negatives that go with it, it has been seen that children who use public transit systems to get to school develop a healthy appreciation for public transport facilities.

And they have a greater tendency to use as well as support its use through adulthood. This is especially important to those areas where the public transport system is weak and needs to be strengthened.

Cons of Using Public Transportation

Safety – The Primary Concern

While there are several benefits to public transportation, it cannot be denied that there is one area where private transport trumps it; by a fair way.

And this, in the opinion of many parents, is their single most important concern. This is especially true in difficult neighbourhoods. And while using public transit is certainly safer than walking to school, it doesn’t beat the family car in this respect.

Harassment and Negative Experiences

Closely related to the above mentioned one, avoiding being bullied or harassed – and not having a proper channel to address it is an important factor for parents in choosing not to send their child through public transportation.

Children may also get traumatised by events they are not part of, but simply witness. Given these circumstances, in areas where public transportation is the only option, parents may choose to send their children to a suboptimal school as a result.

Sharing is Caring

The primary reason for preferring private transportation to public transportation is that of safety. Parents often compromise due to the difficulty in taking children to their school amidst their own hectic schedules.

This is true especially when both parents are working. This can be mitigated by carpools, where parents of different children alternate the responsibility of taking them to school.

The Hour Expands

Taking public transportation inevitably means that the child needs to spend more time in transit. From walking to their stop to wait for the bus to the longer routes (that have to be) taken by the bus; and back again while returning home.

This is more prominently seen for high schools, which are generally further away. This is a concern both with respect to time as well as safety.

Discomfort and Overcrowding

Most schools start and end around the same time. So, when a bus comes along, it is possible that it may be overcrowded. And this makes for a negative experience for the child, which they may not be able to handle. This effect is even more prominent while returning home.

Differing Standards

A study indicated that among children between the ages of 9 and 13, only 6% play outside a given week. At a time when parents are overprotective about their children, can we reasonably expect the children to be able to handle themselves in public settings?

With unfamiliar people? In a crowd? And then there’s the question of personality. Do they get anxious? Under difficult circumstances, will they be able to call the parent and communicate with them?

So there you have it. Why you should rely on public transportation for your children’s school travel. And why you shouldn’t. Priorities and personal preferences play a big role. But we hope this will help you make a more considered decision.

How to Deal With School Bus Accident

Posted on November 30, 2018 by TSB Super Admin

School bus accidents do happen at times and they can happen anytime and anywhere.

In fact, hundreds of accidents are reported every year.

Statistically, school buses are safer than most of the other vehicles that ply on the road.

But still, school buses can meet with accidents which is daunting as children are involved.

Read Also

20 Must-know School Bus Safety Tips for School Bus Drivers

If you are a parent, you would like to know exactly what you should do if your child’s school bus met with an accident.

Read on to know more as to how you could deal with it.

School Bus Accidents – Types

Typically, parents imagine a collision when they came to know that their child’s school bus met with an accident during the journey.

Actually, collisions do happen, but other types of accidents also cause injuries to children.

These include the following:

• Falling while entering or alighting the bus

• Tripping and falling while on the bus

• Slipping and falling in the aisle (wet floors)

• A child’s backpack or clothes might get caught on the bus and he/she might be dragged as the bus is driven off

The first and foremost thing you should do is to know the details about the accident as soon as possible.

It is not wise to rely too much on the school to update you as what actually happened as they might squarely be responsible for the cause of accident.

Read Also

How to Avoid School Bus Accidents

What Should You Do

If your child gets involved in an accident while travelling by the school bus, it is not easy to find out what actually happened if you were not there when the accident happened.

Therefore, it is crucial to take the following steps:

•First of all, ensure that your child is given medical attention immediately.

This is because their well-being is your top most priority.

•Document everything regarding the accident as quickly as you can.

It will be a good idea if you talk to other parents as well and write down all the details.

•Take photos of at least your child’s injuries if not possible to take pictures of the accident scene.

In case your child’s school bus accident case goes to trial, his/her injuries would have most likely healed by then.

This means you will not have any visual proof to provide.

• The next step is to contact a lawyer experienced in handling bus accident cases.

Strict deadlines have to be adhered to when you file a claim for personal injury compensation.

An attorney who is experienced in handling bus accident cases knows exactly what is to be done and when it has to be done.

10 Interesting Features of Excursion Management Software

Posted on November 26, 2018 by TSB Super Admin

School excursions are fun, but to organize one is a challenging task.

Managing children during a school excursion is not easy either.

However, school excursion software can make things much easier for schools.

The software enables the transportation manager to form a students’ team and schedule an excursion with the start and end points.

And also designate a contact person, assign driver and assistant, and allocate a vehicle for the trip.

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For additional safety, smart bands can also be employed.

The software also makes carrying paperwork everywhere redundant.

However, the best school excursion management software will have the following interesting features:

1. Student Safety

The excursion management software is very helpful in not only ensuring but also in managing the safety of the students on an excursion trip.

Student safety is dealt with by giving staff members instant access to certain things such as student medical conditions, personalized care instructions, etc.

And also provides access to emergency contacts even when there is no connectivity or the mobile devices are offline.

All that the schools have to do is train their staff on what they are supposed to do in an emergency.

2. Management of Transportation

There is a module incorporated into the excursion management software helping schools to plan routes in an efficient manner.

The software helps in the management of trips with a focus on student safety.

The vehicle and driver details, including the exact location of the school bus, are tracked to improve safety.

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3. Data Safety and Security

Medical records of students contain their personal information.

As in paper forms, there is a chance of getting lost, stolen, read by someone, or photographed.

Access can be restricted, ensuring the utmost security and safety of data, when school excursion software is used.

Only specified staff members get instant access through password, fingerprint, or code to comprehensive student records, including medical records, and their access can be cut off on completion of the event.

This is because data automatically expires after the excursion so as to keep the information secure.

Even when authorized staff access information, they are tracked.

Therefore, it is easier, more secure, and more practical in all respects.

4. Unplanned or Unexpected Trips

Sometimes, the need to take a child or children to a nearby place either for educational purposes or any medical emergency.

In such kind of situations, the staff members need not to have panic at all.

A unique feature of the school excursion management software called “Instant Trip” can be made use of to handle all unplanned or unexpected trips.

5. Student Attendance Management

Keeping track of the students as the excursion progresses is a challenging task, especially when it has to be done manually.

The excursion management software leverages the mobile technology to ensure 100 percent accurate attendance marking.

The mobile linked excursion student attendance module enables staff to mark off their presence at several checkpoints throughout the excursion (for example, on the bus, at the bus stops, etc.).

6. Smart Wristbands

In some situations, there might be a need for additional safety when taking school children on an excursion.

The school excursion management software comes with a provision for that too- smart watch technology.

This is integrated into the student attendance management module ensuring additional safety for the children.

7. Parent App

This is one of the unique features of the school excursion management software.

It is linked with the parent app.

This enables the school to keep the parents in the loop and provide them with relevant information in real time.

8. Auto Routing

This is another interesting feature of the excursion management software.

It makes navigation easy.

The auto-routing module works on the basis of the start point or the source and the endpoint or the destination.

The auto-routing feature helps to reduce the running time of the vehicle, fuel usage, efforts of the transport manager and driver, and saves fuel, among other things.

It makes use of the algorithm ‘Smart Routing’ to find solutions automatically.

9. Smart Notifications

The Smart Notifications feature is helpful in many ways and mainly in case of emergencies.

This features school administrators and authorized teachers or staff members to send messages or notify all concerned profiles instantaneously about an emergency situation or changes in plans.

This is normally a helpful feature when school children are taken out on an excursion.

The fact that if the school is using excursion management software, then it provides a great deal of confidence in parents.

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10. Geofencing

A geofence refers to a perimeter or a virtual fence around a physical location.

The school excursion management software employs this technology to keep track of students during excursions and manage proximity risk.

This technique does not make use of satellite communication to find the coordinates of the student(s) that has gone astray.

Instead, it keeps checking whether the students in a group are staying close to one another.

The proximity risk management program works by creating a beacon.

Typically, the instructor or the teacher accompanying the students is defined as the beacon.

A random student could also be made a beacon.

The software keeps checking whether each student in the group is close to their beacon or not.

An alarm is initiated or an alert message is sent if a student moves out of the geofence.

5 Top School Bus Tracking Software Providers Every Parent Must Know

Posted on November 23, 2018 by TSB Super Admin

Child safety and security is a major cause of anxiety for parents in these times.

Parents start worrying as soon as the child leaves home for school.

Whether the bus was on time, did their ward board the bus, did the child reach the school safely, and when the student was dropped back are matters of daily concern. This can be solved with school bus tracking software.

The school authorities are responsible for the child safety to and from schools.

It is definitely a daunting task with increasing numbers of students, buses and routes.

Read also

10 Ways that Helps to Keep Students Safe on the School Bus

The degree of alertness and follow up by personnel at different levels vary, often leading to lapses in the process.

Now technology is helping out in this matter to a great extent.

There are many software applications designed to ease daily activities in almost all spheres of life.

In the school scenario, the most relevant and important one seems to be a specialized tracking system for school buses.

Most software packages have a web-based app for the school authorities and a mobile app for parents, drivers and students.

Now here we are showcasing 5 top school bus tracking software providers

1: TrackSchoolBus

This is an excellent software platform designed for all associated with the child – parents, school administration, drivers and transport managers.

With this, concerned people can track attendance of the location of bus, and pick up and drop off timings.

Parents have the option to change the pick-up and drop off points for their ward(s) with intimations to the driver and school.

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The parent can also apply for leave if the child is sick through this app.

Both the driver and administration are informed. The route can be changed if necessary for drivers to reduce running time.

The school authorities have access to details regarding the driver, route, time spent on the road, list of students present on the bus thus enabling them to put their fleet to optimal use.

Transport managers can plan routes and trips, track every bus and communicate with drivers.

Accidents and traffic congestions along the routes can be viewed and conveyed to both parents and drivers.

With this, transport managers do not have to perform school bus routing, optimization and allocation manually because the system does it automatically as our system is AI in-built.

2: BusWhere

Considered very easy to use and a reliable for parents, the app tells us ‘where’ the bus is located currently.

The bus routes can be viewed on an interactive map.

Parents are notified when the bus is going to reach the stop. They get a minute by minute update on expected arrival time.

It tracks the location of the different buses on the specified routes, the time of arrival and departure from each stop, deviation in route due to traffic delays, expected arrival time at each of the designated stops.

This is of immense help to school administrators.

They have an easy access to information of the buses in their fleet mainly the routes, present location, speed and fuel levels.

With this, if any delay in school bus timing, parents can be notified via messages.

An additional feature of this is that the previous history of the bus can be obtained.

Details thus logged can be downloaded for further analysis too.

3: School Bus Tracker

School bus tracker offers real-time location of buses to both parents and school authorities.

Location of the buses, time of arrival and departure and route changes are monitored.

If any delay, direct messages are sent to parents and the information is also relayed to school authorities.

With this, parents can request for route change.

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The driver can also be notified directly by the parent if the child is sick.

This enables him to change the route accordingly.

Though widely used, this does not monitor the child’s attendance on and off the bus as it does not have RFID.

4: Here comes the bus

Being a bus location sharing platform, it provides the parents and school administration with the exact location of the bus.

The parents can view the scheduled and actual time of student arrival at both home and school.

In case where the bus is delayed, email alerts are sent to parents.

This is a device to track whether the student got on and off the bus.

It will indicate the bus-stop too. ID cards are scanned by students while boarding and exiting the bus. This will provide details of student attendance.

In conjunction with the GPS device, the location is pinpointed and the school as well as the parents is notified if students have alighted at the wrong stop.

5: Applane Real-Time Bus Tracking System

This system is a powerful software for parents to track their child’s bus route, location and timings of departure and arrival.

It offers an option wherein the child can be dropped to the next bus stop in case they fail to drop the child off at the usual one.

Parents are notified of route changes due to delays. They are also informed of any emergency situations or breakdowns.

RFID integration helps in monitoring attendance. An additional feature is the CCTV installed which keeps an eye on both students and drivers.

Unlike others, this can be accessed on mobile devices by the school authorities making it possible to manage their entire fleet anywhere anytime.

Conclusion

These software applications make the school bus fleet management an easy task.

Managed well within the parameters of privacy and security terms, this can be a boon to all.

Both the parents and school authorities can stay updated about the whereabouts of their wards. These providers help to enhance child safety.

Master the Skills of School Bus Driver Roles and Be Successful

Posted on November 16, 2018 by TSB Super Admin

School bus drivers are bestowed with the responsibility of transporting kids to and from school in a safe and timely manner. They also take school sports teams and other groups for trips.

This means that apart from their transportation duties, there are certainly other skills that they must possess to be able to successfully perform their roles.

The job of a school bus driver is suitable for those who like driving and working with children. A passion for driving alone may not be enough to do your duties as a school bus driver to the best of your ability.

This is because working with children requires a lot of patience, a lot of responsibility, and a lot of spontaneity.

School bus drivers generally work part-time, for as long as the school is in operation. These drivers are not just vehicle operators since students consider them to be friends, parents trust them with the safety and security of their child, and school authorities expect them to maintain the school’s reputation.

While little formal education is required for this career, a school bus driver must have adequate training and a commercial driver’s license.

SCHOOL BUS DRIVER – SKILLS AND ABILITIES

1. Communication

School bus drivers deal with various audiences – students, parents, teachers, principals, transport authorities, and more. This makes it extremely vital for them to have proper communication skills. School bus drivers must be able to:

Listen to others and ask questions: They must know how to engage in dialogue with students. They must inquire about the child’s overall well-being, inform parents all necessary information and take charge of what is happening on the journey between school and home.
Understand spoken/written information: School bus drivers are given several instructions on a regular basis. They also receive route maps and addresses to ensure every child is dropped off at the right destination in a timely manner. If school bus drivers are unable to follow this information, they will not be able to perform their duties responsibly.
Speak clearly: School bus drivers are sometimes requested to communicate information between parents and teachers. This must be done with utmost care so that messages are well understood at both ends and there is no confusion of any kind.

2. Reason and Problem Solving

School bus drivers must be alert to notice when something is wrong or about to go wrong. For instance, if weather conditions can cause delays, they must be able to use reasoning and draw conclusions as to how time can be managed effectively.

They must focus and not get distracted while performing a particular task. They must follow instructions and arrange objects in a certain order.

If they are transporting school teams for events, they must know how the team’s equipment is to be stored so that there are no damages.

3. Bus Conduct

School bus drivers often need to perform multi-task. They need to watch the road and drive safely. At the same time, they need to monitor the conduct of students on the bus also.

Buses come with large mirrors on the front window making it easier for drivers to keep an eye on the actions of the students. School bus drivers must watch student behavior and stop any hooliganism as soon as it is noticed.

Moreover, drivers must immediately report irresponsible behavior so that necessary action is taken and harmful behavior is not repeated. Drivers must identify these students, their seats, and ensure that they sit in their allotted seats regularly.

4. Vehicle Safety

School bus drivers need to have a clear understanding of the bus’ equipment. In simple words, this refers to the regular evaluation of tires, brakes, tuning signals, and other mechanical equipment.

They must also watch gauges, dials, and other parts of the engine to ensure that the machine continues to run smoothly. School districts generally prepare a checklist that drivers need to fill after conducting basic checks on different safety items.

In case of any issues or operational troubles, the bus must be immediately sent to the workshop for repair while the school bus driver uses an alternate vehicle for transporting students.

This skill of understanding the mechanism of the machine can help school bus drivers go a long way since issues are identified early on and they do not get stuck during the course of transportation.

5. Record Maintenance

School bus drivers must maintain a regular basis log activity in different categories. This includes the number of students riding on the bus, the absentees, the distance traveled, the route stops, and the time slots.

Furthermore, drivers must record when fuel is replenished, the quantity, and the rate per liter/gallon. School authorities mostly provide private fuel stations for the use of school bus drivers. Logging in this data helps to maintain accuracy in routes.

6. Perceive and Visualize

Vision is an important parameter to evaluate the proficiency of a school bus driver. He/she must be able to quickly and accurately compare numbers, patterns, pictures, letters, or objects.

He/she must be able to read road signs, manage right routes, and avoid any kind of mishaps. A school bus driver must know one’s location and accurately judge the position and distance from other objects in a physical setting. He/she must be able to adjust the relation to self.

7. Patience

Working as a school bus driver requires interaction with children from all age groups and all backgrounds. You must have a lot of patience to manage different tantrums and behaviors.

A school bus driver can never get strict or violent with the children. Parents hand over children to a school bus driver with a lot of trust and confidence.

This trust must be respected. Therefore, work on your patience levels and your child-handling skills, if you wish to succeed in your career as a school bus driver.

The job of a school bus driver does not require a specific educational qualification but it does require several interpersonal skills that you need to excel at in order to be able to master at work. If you think that you can master these skills, there’s no reason you wouldn’t succeed and become the most loved bus driver at school.

15 Tips to Fix Your Child’s Long School Bus Rides

Posted on October 12, 2018 by TSB Super Admin

While many parents may not have realized this, it is a true fact that a child’s school day starts with the ride on the bus.

However, very long bus rides for the children (say for two hours one way) are seen to detrimentally affect the child’s health and contribute to absent school days and even increase drop-out rates.

The effects are more intense for those children who require special education. Are these long bus rides not able to meet your child’s needs? Have you been mulling on the idea to fix these rides?

Currently, there are no definitions for lengths of the rides even for students with disabilities. If you want to fix the length of the bus ride for your child, you may have to explore and find out aspects with which you can establish that these rides are inappropriate. We give you a few tips that you can start exploring with and later build upon.

It is important to understand that according to the IEP document, transportation comes under the banner of related services.

Therefore, the first and foremost tip is that any concern in this direction should be approached in the same manner as you would do for other related services.
The next important thing to be done is to ask your child what he/she feels about the ride. Whereas some children find the ride cumbersome and exhausting, others seem to enjoy the bus ride.

It is good to get some clarity about the extent of the problem right here. Even if the child seems to be happy about the ride, it does not mean that you cannot strive to make it better.
IDEA does not define the ride length. Therefore, go through the state registers to find out whether the length of the school bus ride has been defined.

You may find this in some of the states and would not find this in others. It is a good idea to go through the transportation policy of the school district.
For a large majority of children, riding the bus for long hours can cause severe anxiety. In school-going children, sitting for long hours is difficult. This is a valid point that can be brought up.
It pays for you to know that if the transportation has been provided by the school, it is essentially a part of education that is covered by the IEP. All the queries and concerns can then be addressed to the school.
As transportation is a related service according to IEP, if you feel the bus driver needs to be trained, that can be put in the IEP.
The bus ride is largely chaotic and most of the times, the rides are not supervised to the extent they should be. If your child faces problems such as bullying because of little or no supervision, you can state that as a concern.
In case any change seems impossible, what about the following solutions:

•    Can the child be allowed to eat (whenever the child feels like) on the bus?
•    Would there be a Wi-Fi hotspot so that the child can do their homework on the bus?
•    Can tutoring take place inside the bus?

Make a list of the point which you are not willing to negotiate with: bullying by kids, medications on time, hunger pangs, Type I diabetes, epileptic seizures, etc. These would make your case stronger against long bus rides.
Document all your findings. Add bus incidents to make your point.
Just as how adults do not perform well at work after a bad commute, much the same happens with the children after a long bus ride.

You can make a point when you prove that every day the child is recuperating after an hour’s drive to school and recuperating at home after the one-hour ride back.
Even a roadblock in the IEP process means there is a solution to the problem and you can come around it if you make an effort.
It is a good idea to motivate other community members to take the bus when possible instead of driving their children to school.
In the case where the district administration does not provide transportation for any child, then you will have to argue the case based on the fact that this is a related service that would help your child to access the provisions of Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE).
An argument can be made with the fact that LRE (Least Restrictive Environment) does not imply only the classroom placement but also the long bus ride.

IDEA states that children that receive special education should do their learning in the least restrictive environment.

Conclusion

If your child spends too long on the school bus on a daily basis, then it is upon out to bring it to the IEP team’s attention without any delay.

It will also do well for you to contact an attorney that specializes in special education who can help to examine your case and determine whether your child is being denied FAPE.