Artificial Intelligence in School Bus – A Comprehensive Guide

You will agree with the fact that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the catchphrase which is attracting the attention of people operating in different spheres. Now, AI is also making its strong presence felt in the field of school transportation.

You might be wondering the role of AI in this territory concerning the pickup and dropping of school students at their designated stops.

For every one of you to make the most of the state-of-the-art technology aptly coined with the AI title, here is an all-in-one guide. Reading this will help you understand the numerous ways in which AI can simplify the school bus fleet operations.

What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence, true to its name is a technology that is meant to simplify the lives of humans in more ways than you can imagine. It is a technique by which you can allow your routine operations to be controlled by AI-supported computers.

To sum it all, AI allows machines to think and act on their own, just as human do. Human intelligence takes the form of instructions that are given to these machines. They will then be transformed into artificially intelligent systems that can act on their own.

If you are curious to know about the different ways in which AI-powered systems operate, it will take you by surprise that such machines can plan, learn, demonstrate reasoning abilities, solve problems, show up various perceptions and provide creative solutions.

Not leaving the various demands of school transportation behind, TrackSchoolBus makes the most of AI features to provide a host of benefits to the stakeholders.  Let us now move on to understand the various ways in which TrackSchoolBus relies on AI in supporting the various needs of school buses.

What are its main features?

What do you expect from a school bus transportation system which is powered by Artificial Intelligence? You will expect it to seamlessly provide all the solutions to various concerns of school transportation alongside strengthening the security of school students.

And AI does exactly the same. It is through an in-built AI technology that TrackSchoolBus automates the three most important subjects concerning school transportation.

They are: Auto Allocation, Auto Optimization and Auto Routing.

Let us now examine all these 3 features in detail.

  1. Auto Allocation:

True to its name, auto allocation is an AI-powered feature that helps fleet managers allocate vehicles on different school routes. AI steps in by providing the much-needed data point which is the optimum capacity of every school bus route. There may be some routes which demand a couple of trips and there may be others which are less populated. In such cases, an auto allocation enables transport managers to optimally allocate a particular bus to a particular school bus route.

  1. Auto Optimization:

Moving on to the next AI feature that helps school districts is about the preparedness to initiate a sudden change in route. This feature serves two basic necessities. One being the route optimization and the other is the pickup optimization.

Speaking of route optimization, it is through this feature that fleet managers can effortlessly manage and juggle with multiple pickup points that should be covered in a single bus route. In the event a student needs to be picked up somewhere between two pickup points, a provision can be made. Route optimization also helps the school bus to take the shortest route to a destination.

Moving on to pick up optimization, you will be in a comfortable position to come up with an exact pickup point for a student that is in line with the historical data and the assigned points.

AI helps fleet managers rise to the occasion of a change in the pickup point so that they can make timely changes to the school bus route. That means, it is through AI that school bus managers can optimize their routes taking into account a sudden change in the pickup point while the bus is in motion.

  1. Auto Routing:

TrackSchoolBus relies on a smart Auto Routing algorithm that enables fleet managers to come up with the most cost and time-effective route. Here, the existing data points consisting of drop and pickup points that are generated by AI serve as pointers to alter a particular school bus route.

What are its advantages?

For you to understand the benefits of AI to the field of school transportation, you need to give a closer look at the three automated features, individually.

Advantages of Auto Allocation Feature

  1.  AI will help fleet managers to assign the correct pickup point which is established on the basis of the current residential address of students.
  2. If any change in the route, auto allocation helps transport managers to redo the auto routing plan while effectively performing all the activities of auto routing.
  3. All thanks to Artificial Intelligence, you now have a system that takes care of all the school bus routes, pickup points and vehicle assignments. You need to simply provide pertinent details concerning the trip and residential address and AI does its job, automatically performing all the above activities.  
  4. Both parents and school bus drivers will be informed about the pickup point of students as location indicates on Google Maps.
  5. AI simplifies the job of a transport manager allowing him to chalk out a route in a jiffy. He does not have to worry about the number of pickup points or the strength of students. AI does all the spade work necessary and suggests an optimal route which saves a lot of time and cost.
  6. As an attractive incentive to prospective schools, TrackSchoolBus offers free auto allocation trials. Depending on their satisfaction levels, schools can opt for this time-saving and efficient AI-powered auto allocation feature.

Advantages of Auto Optimization Feature:

  1. You just need two data points to implement the auto optimization feature and they are the starting point and the ending point. Due to this feature, school bus routes are optimized automatically and are AI-inbuilt.
  2. It is through this AI-powered feature that fleet managers can continuously and diligently monitor any change in pickup points. They will get all the help needed to assign pickup points by relying on the actual location of the student.
  3. You can also immediately get information about the best possible road that is free from traffic jams. Through this auto optimization feature, transport managers can not only reduce the travel time but also bring down fuel bills to a considerable extent. 
  4. If any relocation, you can effortlessly update the pickup point that will be intimated to everyone concerned.
  5. With this, fuel and fleet maintenance bills can be reduced. In turn, you can also reduce the wear and tear of your fleet when you avoid the instances of unnecessary travel, covering long distances.

Advantages of Auto Routing Feature

  1. This help transport managers to decide which route to take, which trip to start and which vehicle will meet the capacity requirements of a particular route.
  2. Fleet managers can perform regular checks to assess the efficiency of their current school bus routes.
  3. It is through this AI-powered feature that you can optimize many elements of school transportation including durability of the vehicle, usage of vehicle on a daily basis along with running time and the total distance covered per day.
  4. Since this feature takes the vehicle details as an important data point, you can match your requirements based on the number of students at a particular pickup point, the total seating capacity of a school bus and the shift that a particular driver is filling in for.
  5. In addition to cut down the costs to run the school bus fleet, AI helps to save the vehicle running hours through optimized vehicle assignments.

How will AI change the management of school buses?

It is indeed a very difficult task for transport managers to come up with the most befitting route for a school bus trip. However, they need not fret as they can now make the most of modern technological advancements coming in the form of Artificial Intelligence. Modern technology now steps in to provide the much-needed support to transport managers to effectively manage the school bus fleets.

Let us now check out the various ways in which AI helps transport managers to deliver their responsibilities in the most efficient manner.

AI Solves School Bus Routing Issues

AI is now being considered the most viable option to address many concerns revolving around school bus routing. When AI comes into the picture, a host of user-friendly and affordable apps are available to all the stakeholders concerned about the safety and convenience of students. With AI by your side, school bus tracking apps loaded with modern features including auto routing, auto optimization and auto allocation can be put to use.

Let us look at these 3 features which have a major role in the effective management of school buses.

Auto Routing Helps to Operate an Optimized School Bus Route at All Times

By now you have understood the advantages you can derive out of TrackSchoolBus’ auto routing feature. This feature collates pertinent information concerning school bus routes, pickup and drop points, student profiles from historical transportation records, vehicle assignments and seating capacities of school buses. Taking all these important data points into consideration, the auto routing feature automatically suggests an optimized route supported by other details linked to vehicle assignments and trips.

Having an eye fixed on these parameters will automatically put you in complete control over the running hours of every school bus and the fuel and vehicle maintenance cost that is incurred on every vehicle.

To sum it all, below is the rundown of the various ways in which auto routing helps in the management of school bus fleets.

  • Come up with the most appropriate school bus route for every trip
  • Cut down the vehicle running time, in turn leading to the fall in operating costs of school buses
  • Regular checks on the effectiveness of every school bus route can be performed
  • School bus operators can effortlessly chalk out optimized routes and school bus trips considering data points like pickup point density, the bus seating capacity and the school timings

Auto Allocation – Another AI-Powered Offering of TrackSchoolBus

To activate the AI-powered auto allocation feature, you need to collate student information which comes in the form of vehicle information and their designated pickup and drop point details. Here are the evident ways in which auto allocation helps transport managers perform their duties in the most efficient manner.

  • Transport managers can effectively complete all the techniques concerning auto routing
  • They can select the pickup point by considering the residential addresses of students
  • AI steps in to display the pickup point of every student as a location on the Google Maps
  • School bus operators can optimize the pickup point by referencing it with the historical data that is stored on the system

Auto Optimization Enables the Optimum Utilization of School Buses

Meant to address two important sub-processes, auto optimization helps transport managers come up with: a) an optimized route b) an optimized pickup point. Collectively, this feature enables school bus operators to optimize the utilization of school bus in the following ways:

  • Suggests the most befitting and efficient route, thereby saving the drivers’ time and efforts
  • By plying on an effective route, you will be in a strong position to cut down vehicle maintenance costs and the running time of school buses
  • It help to reduce fuel consumption
  • Apart from preventing the haphazard movement of school buses, the auto optimization feature improves the durability of your fleet
  • While AI suggests a road with less traffic, it will also come up with the shortest route which cuts down the vehicle running time
  • The efficiency of pickup points can be improved by coordinating the efforts of school bus operators and transportation authorities
  • Along with a facility to update and alter pickup points, AI helps in the modification of school bus routes matching the seating capacity of school buses
  • A relocation can be addressed by the re-center facility, a feature that allows you to immediately alter and update the pickup point
  • School bus operators can effortlessly change the pickup point by taking the reference of the actual location
  • They can also make the necessary changes to the school bus route depending on how much students can be accommodated.

Conclusion

As a takeaway thought, AI through its effective features paves the way for an effective management of school bus fleet. Not only it helps school bus operators to come up with cost-effective and shorter bus routes, it will also improve the goodwill of every school.

Hence signing up for the AI-powered school bus transportation services of TrackSchoolBus will be an as an intelligent move for every school.

Schools which subscribe to these automated school bus management and tracking services are bound to take pride in their efforts to employ advanced technologies like Artificial Intelligence.

Great School Bus Drivers – A Short Guide

It will not be an overstatement to mention that great drivers are the life-blood of any school district aiming at an efficient and problem-free fleet. It is through these professionally trained men that kids, parents and everyone concerned can heave a sigh of relief.

It is because of these men who are always behind the wheels of school buses that your school-going kids reach home safe and on time. With so much being said about school bus drivers, this exhaustive blog points out every facet of hiring, training, retaining and attracting them.

It also sheds light on all the qualities of a school bus driver that will stand as a testimony for him to be called “Great”. Before you try to understand all the above-mentioned aspects of great school bus drivers, let us first focus on the duties of a school bus driver.

School Bus Driver Duties

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Every job comes with a detailed job description speaking of the “good to have” and “must have” skills so as to hire the most befitting candidate.

So is the case with school bus drivers who are supposed to match their job description so that they move on from being considered as mere vehicle-operators to friends of both students and their parents.

On the flipside, every job entails upon certain duties that should be fulfilled by an employee. Here are certain duties of a school bus driver:

  • The one that tops the list is the ordained duty of picking up and dropping school kids at their designated points.
  • It is also his duty to follow the routes that are mentioned by the school authorities.
  • He is required to keep his eyes and ears open to weather and traffic conditions.
  • In addition to meeting timelines, he should ensure the safety of kids onboard at all times.
  • He should periodically test the tires, brakes and other bus-body parts and suggest timely overhauling and maintenance procedures.
  • It is also the prime duty of a school bus driver to ensure that kids maintain a safe environment while onboarding.

Qualities of a Great School Bus Driver

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There are many things that separate a good school bus driver from a great school bus driver. While a good school bus driver may follow all the traffic rules, a great school bus driver goes beyond these requirements.

Since it is all about ensuring the safety of school kids at all times in addition to effectively managing the fleet through timely maintenance, here are the “must have” characteristics of a great school bus driver.

  1. Sticks to rules and ensures safety of school kids

The topmost quality of a school bus driver is his adherence to rules. All for the sake of ensuring the safety of school kids, he is expected to demonstrate a great deal of professionalism that manifests in the form of:

  • Punctuality both in terms of pickup and drop timings and parking the vehicle in the school garage
  • While following all the traffic rules, he should also wear seat belts so as to ensure his safety which is indirectly linked to the safety of the kids onboard
  • He is expected to honor the signals at railway crossings
  • In addition to driving according to the traff  ic signals, he is also expected to have an eye on the speed limit
  1. When it comes to handling kids, patience tops the list of qualities

It is the innate quality of kids to be fidgety and mischievous. School bus drivers who deal with kids all the time are expected to exercise a great deal of patience.

While it takes all sorts of well-behaved and unruly kids to make a school trip, a great school bus driver is the one who not only drives carefully but also has an eye on the kids. Hence all those bus drivers who have patience can become great school bus drivers.

  1. Timely responses to issues

Life is uncertain and it does not take more than a second for a calm situation to turn into an eventuality. Things are meant to go wrong with a number of unexpected issues cropping up en-route a school trip.

Hence a great school bus driver is expected to react fast to issues and take remedial steps to avert the extent of damage that can affect kids and the vehicle.

His decision making skills coupled with his strong presence of mind in averting accidents can be the perfect blend of must-have traits in a great school bus driver.

  1. A well-informed driving professional

In addition to knowing how to use the state-of-the-art routing software that is offered by TrackSchoolBus, a great school bus driver should demonstrate routing and time management skills.

He can become an asset to any school as he is well-informed about all the school bus routes which help school management save a lot of time, money and effort.

  1. Should never use school buses for personal use

A great school bus driver, alongside demonstrating his driving skills should reach the garage on time every single day. This mirrors the fact that he has not used the bus to fulfill personal obligations.

  1. Should understand the world of differences between a car and a school bus

School bus drivers should know that maneuvering a passenger car is way too different from being at the wheel of a school bus. School bus drivers are expected to exercise caution while driving. Hence the motto should be to drive slowly and steadily.

Why is there a Shortage of School Bus Drivers?

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Topping the list of challenges faced by school districts across the globe is the shortage of school bus drivers. Enabling you to get the right picture of this biggest challenge, here are the main reasons that are leading to an acute scarcity of school bus drivers.

  1. The main obstacle that comes in the way of school bus drivers is the fact that they need to wait for up to 6 months to clear the Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) exam.
  2. Next in line are the monetary requirements that entail upon a driver’s job. Alongside expecting better benefits, school bus drivers are required to spend their time and efforts in getting a CDL.
  3. The number of hours that are required to be put in by a school bus driver is another concern impacting the deficiency of school bus drivers.

From the school administration perspective, here is the main reason for the shortage of school bus drivers.

The fact that mechanics are available only for 4 hours a day is an impediment for school bus drivers to address to breakdowns.

Also when it comes to regular maintenance of school bus fleet, school bus drivers have to rely on these trained mechanics to perform routine safety checks.

Hence it is because of maintenance requirements that schools are unable to bridge the gap between the demand and supply of school bus drivers.

How to Attract School Bus Drivers?

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It is the responsibility of every school to attract many applications from school bus drivers so that their fleet requirements are filled in. In an attempt to experience a steady flow of applications, it is the need of the hour to look out for creative ways to recruit school bus drivers.

While the conventional newspaper ads and fliers may yield results, sometimes the informal communication between people can fill in a school bus driver vacancy. If you are looking for other compelling means that will help schools fill their school bus driver positions, here they come.

  1. Billboards Can Make Their Presence Felt

Notwithstanding the fact that the bright yellow-colored school buses make their strong presence felt on city roads, you may go ahead and cash in on the strength of attractive billboards.

Billboards in the form of attention-grabbing vinyl signs can display the message of a vacancy. These billboards when displayed on school buses can create an impact on the readers and riders.

These people can in-turn spread this message to school bus drivers who are looking for an employment.

  1. Maintain a Rapport with PTA

It is important for transport organizations to foster their relationship with the Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs).

Once transport conglomerates start building a rapport with PTAs, they will be able to collect data points about good school drivers who used to ferry their kids when they were small.

PTAs serve as effective means to fill in the drivers’ seats of school buses since they can vouch for the behavior of all those school bus drivers who transported  kids on time and safely.

  1. Unleash the Power of Direct-Mailing

Directly mailing prospective candidates for the role of school bus drivers is another means to fill the vacant positions.

It comes as an intelligent move to send a recruitment letter supported by a poster and the job application to people who might be interested to work as school bus drivers. These professions come with flexible schedules which can come as a blessing to fill up school bus driver vacancies.

How to Train School Bus Drivers?

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Training school bus drivers is a significant part to ensure the safety of school students. Training is also about informing drivers with emergency planning tactics along with harping on the importance of common sense while being at the wheel.

And to impart this training to drivers, you can bank upon the knowledge imparted by school bus driver training programs.

Given the fact that a majority of these training programs focus only on how to maneuver and drive a school bus, it is the need of the hour to equip them with details concerning safety issues and crises management.

With an intention to prepare the school bus drivers for any sort of eventuality that might arise while driving, below are certain training measures that should be taken by school authorities.

  1. School bus drivers should be informed about the latest trends in school violence so as to avert any such incident.
  2. They should be trained to deal with bus supervision issues.
  3. School bus drivers who have a thorough knowledge of their vehicle will be in a position to conduct pre & post trip inspections. Along with periodical checkup of brakes, they should be trained to adjust their mirrors and reference points so as to avert accidents.
  4. Every school bus driver should be taught about various driving situations including how to maneuver the bus at an intersection, how to safely reverse the bus and the precautions that need to be taken at railroad crossings.
  5. Prevention and effective management of violent incidents that take place in the bus also form a subject to learn.
  6. School bus drivers should be equipped with information concerning bus emergency strategies and exercises that need to be conducted as part of crises management.
  7. They should be informed about all the ways in which school buses can become targets to terrorist attacks.
  8. School bus drivers should be trained about safe bus stops along with having an eye on sleeping children. It is very important for every school bus driver to be taught about the nuances concerning student management.
  9. Last but not the least, it is very important for every school bus driver to identify distractions while driving so that he/she can focus on the road ahead. This is an important part of training that will help the driver exercise his/her presence of mind to avert an accident.

Tips To Retain School Bus Drivers

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It is a well-known fact that while good school bus drivers are scarce, then to retain them is quite a difficult task. All the transportation departments looking for means to retain professional and trained drivers can check out these 12 workable tips. 

  1. School districts should look at the salary structure of school bus drivers and strive to offer them competitive salaries. Once health and retirement benefits come as perks, they will attract more and more school bus drivers to stick to their jobs.
  2. If school bus drivers are encouraged through adequate support and training, they feel valued and hence will stick on to their jobs.
  3. Any reason for a driver’s unruly behavior should be immediately brought to the notice of supervisors who should be ordained to take timely action.
  4. In an attempt to value the opinions of school bus drivers, it is important to conduct periodical staff meetings. As part of the agenda, supervisors should allow the drivers to say their opinions about anything that is of concern to them.
  5. It is also very important to offer an unbiased treatment to all the school bus drivers.
  6. School administrations inclined to retain school bus drivers should have procedures and policies along with certain best practices that should be followed by them.
  7. Respect for drivers is another factor that will go a long way in retaining them.
  8. A pat on the back of drivers for any positive trait such as accident-free driving or regular attendance is sure to retain them for long.
  9. To top it all, financial incentives like rewards and bonuses can come in as attractive means to retain good school bus drivers.

Closing Thoughts

Given the fact that good school bus drivers are an asset to every school, it pays for school authorities to pay heed to their concerns and demands. Only then they will be encouraged to take pride in their job.

Along with training, appreciating and respecting school bus drivers can bring in a great deal of accountability to their ordained duty of transporting students safely and on time.

School Bus Fleet Management Guide for the Transport Managers

Safety first is safety always” – Charles M Hayes

School bus fleet management is essential since it has a key role in enhancing transportation efficiency and routing. But, how will you improve the fleet management? Why is it essential? Of course, you will have certain queries on school bus fleet management.

Lets' check out the solution regarding the fleet management of school buses:

School bus management solution

First and foremost, the school bus management solution is implemented in schools for ensuring the student safety. Wondering how it enhances student safety? With the support of modern technologies, you will obtain the real-time details regarding the students on a school bus. Nevertheless, it is one of the powerful transportation management tools, which provide information on routine operations of school transportation management.

Features:

  • Track the school bus location and manage pickups and drops efficiently
  • Oversee the school bus status, such as over speeding, sudden braking, vehicle engine on or off condition, AC on or off, fuel details, mileage details, etc.
  • Improve bus safety by regular monitoring, re-directing buses to alternative routes for avoiding hazards, creating Geo-fence, etc.
  • Manage expenses by lowering the fuel usage, monitor on-board engine diagnostics, automate driver time sheets, etc.
  • Generate MIS reports

    Benefits:

  • Save time by avoiding long waits at the bus stop
  • Monitor the driver activities constantly
  • Optimize the school bus utilization
  • Handle emergency situations efficiently
     

What are the requirements of effective school bus fleet management?

You will be able to determine the success of transportation through cost management and benchmarking. No doubt, effective fleet management requires accuracy, organization, and operation efficiency. Meanwhile, by utilizing the school bus routing software, you will be able to accomplish routing efficiency with route optimization feature.

Moreover, with the assistance of a school bus GPS tracking software, you can examine whether drivers are able to fulfill their duties with minimal interruption or not. Hence, it is wise to install bus routing software and GPS tracking software for managing fleets efficiently.

Now, let's have a glimpse over the benefits of effective fleet management:

Efficient driver management

When drivers are provided with satisfactory work conditions, there is a chance for reducing significant employee turnover and, thereby, save significant expenses of the school management. Nevertheless, you can positively reinforce them by creating a feeling that what they commit is important (ferrying the precious cargo in the world), treating them impartially, attributing proper training to them, and ensuring that drivers are fully cognizant of real-time details.

Save fuel expenses

As far as school management is concerned, fuel costs is the dominant expenditure to consider. By utilizing the route optimization feature of a tracking software, you will be able to reduce fuel costs by choosing the most apt route for the school bus trip. Consequently, unnecessary wastage of fuel can be evaded.

Regular school bus maintenance

With the modern GPS trackers, you can conduct the school bus maintenance at the right time. At the same time, you will also be able to realize the mechanical requirements of the buses in your fleet promptly.
 

Ensure student safety

Of course, student safety is the prime concern of the school bus transportation. However, with the aid of a school bus tracking system, you will be able to track school bus, notify the estimated time of arrival, entry and exit time of students. Henceforth, you can ensure proper student safety.

As a matter of fact, effective school bus fleet management is not an impossible task , especially, with the modern technologies such as HD camera system, GPS trackers and bus routing software. Furthermore, by managing school bus fleets efficiently, students can relish a secure school bus transportation. 

An Ultimate Guide to the School Bus Safety Rules

School bus safety rules ensures the safety and security of school bus students. Nevertheless, the parents will be concerned once they send their child to school bus unattended. Meanwhile, the school bus safety practices not only provide an assurance to parents, but also safeguard the kids from possible peril that encounters them in the absence of their parents.

Consider the following list of rules that assists you to ensure student safety inside a school bus:

Rules for Boarding the School Bus Safely

  • First and foremost, try to reach the bus stop at least 5 minutes prior to the arrival time of a school bus. Do not sprint towards the school bus
  • Wait at the predetermined stop in a secured place, away from the road side
  • Never stand in the danger zone of the school bus
  • Board only when the school bus stops completely. Ensure that school bus extend its stopping arms and the red lights are flashing
  • Cross the road only when the driver exhibits the apt signal
  • Utilize the handrail while boarding the school bus

Rules for Riding the School Bus Safely

  • Be seated, facing forward and don’t create commotion in a moving bus
  • Place bags and parcels under your seat or on the rack
  • Clear the bus aisle all times
  • Head, hands, and arms should be kept inside the school bus
  • Never attempt to propel items inside or outside the bus
  • Speak softly, don’t hoot or scream inside the bus and never engage in fights
  • Remain hushed while approaching the railway crossing
  • Participate in the school bus evacuation procedures
  • Never use abusive language inside the school bus
  • Do not carry hazardous objects in a school bus
  • Maintain cleanliness in a school bus, eating and drinking is not permitted on the bus
  • Respect the health of fellow passengers and school bus drivers, do not utilize allergic objects
  • Smoking is not allowed inside or near the school bus premises
  • Heed the instructions of school bus drivers

Rules for Descending the School Bus Safely

  • Remain seated until the school bus stops completely
  • Remember to hold the handrail while descending the school bus
  • Walk at least 10 steps away from the school bus and cross the road only when the apt signal is given by the drivers
  • Cross and proceed only after confirming that both ways are clear
  • Don’t rush while descending the school bus, the people in front leave first
  • Never pick the dropped items without the permission of a school bus driver

Aware of the Danger Zone

  • Aware of the 10 giant step rule, where the children will be able to recognize the danger zone around the school bus, especially while crossing in front of the bus
  • Before entering the danger zone, seek the driver’s permission
  • Interpret that a child is within the danger zone, if he or she is able to touch the school bus
  • Always remember the fact that if the driver can’t see the bus driver, you will also be not seen by them
  • Ensure that you have driver’s attention while crossing the road
  • Never play around or near the school bus transportation

Bus Stop Safety Tips

  • Reach the designated bus stop 8-10 minutes prior to school bus arrival time
  • Stand at least 10 feet away from the curb and form a queue away from the street
  • Ensure that the school bus has stopped completely and driver thumbs up, indicating that it’s all right to board the school bus
  • If there is a need to cross the street in front of the school bus, follow this procedure vigilantly- walk on the sidewalk, maintain a giant 10 feet distance, and assure that the driver can see you properly
  • Avoid unfortunate falls by holding the handrails tightly. Be cautious of your belongings or clothes, having straps or drawstrings, as there is a chance to become trapped in the sharp edges of school buses
  • Never walk and run behind or towards the school bus
  • Seek the permission of driver before picking a dropped item near the school bus

Bus Routing Details

School bus students should wait only on the designated bus stops, never modify it without the permission of relevant authorities. Moreover, ensure that you procure a written permit for altering your current bus stop or route.

Role of Parents

  • Ascertain the relevance of your role in ensuring the safety of your child
  • Convince the importance of safety rules to your child and compel them to follow the  essential safety rules
  • Assist them in arranging their objects in their backpack and never delay them
  • Insist them not to drop objects near a school bus or while riding a school bus
  • Initiate a decent rapport with the school bus drivers and obtain the contact details of school transportation authorities
  • Check the updates in the parent app routinely

Essential Requirements of School Bus Drivers

  • Aware of the legal requirements for becoming a school bus driver- ensure that the driver obtain 20-40 hours of specialized training, cleared written exams, and road tests
  • Inspect the driving records and subject to medical examination
  • Complete certified driver improvement courses, receive a general awareness on general traffic laws, and safety procedures
  • Commit the periodic inspection that provide an awareness to drivers regarding the board requirements

Furthermore, all the above rules are established for solving the safety and security concern of school bus students (FYI – the rules will be updated every year based on the specification, and hence stay for further updates).