Road Safety Awareness: Why is it Essential for School Kids

A child who learns about traffic rules and road discipline will grow up to be a law-abiding citizen. The habit of obeying traffic rules teaches a person a sense of responsibility, empathy for others and respecting the other person’s rights,” – The Hindu

Children become the lamentable victims in road accidents due to lack of awareness. Hence, educating the children can be a crucial task since it is dealt with ensuring the safety of future generation.

In fact, the question is how to educate them? When you schedule awareness classes for children, ensure that it is coherent and specific. By rendering awareness, you will obtain a responsible future generation, who prioritize road safety above all.

Road Safety for School Kids

Nevertheless, it is never early to educate your children regarding road safety rules and thus usher them to be “street smart”.

Transform learning into a fun activity

First and foremost, for teaching the children efficiently, learning should be made an amusing and interactive activity. Why? Strangely enough, children will be distracted swiftly without a specific reason and will be engaged in their own world. Let’s check out certain techniques by which you can retrieve their attention:

  • Generate a map encompassing your child’s walking route, street names, and relevant landmarks
  • Conduct quiz whenever you stroll out with your child. Inquire the rules related to crosswalks and intersection and assist the kids to decipher the relevance of road signals
  • Arrange a game that motivates the child to follow your footsteps

Provide a demonstration to your kid

Here follows certain basic safety tips that will become worthwhile to you:

The rules to be followed while walking on the road

  • Comply the rule “left-right-left” before crossing the road. Maintain eye contact with drivers and ensure that no vehicle is close-by
  • Remove your headphone and listen. By listening, you will be able to realize whether a vehicle is approaching you or not
  • Stroll at the inside edge of the sidewalk, which is away from the road. If sidewalk

doesn’t exist in that road, walk in the direction of oncoming traffic in such a way that you can have a clear view of the vehicles approaching you

  • Remain visible. Clothe yourself with reflective materials or bright clothes. Utilize flashlights or stay under street lights after dark
  • Never practice jaywalking

The rules to be followed while driving your vehicle

  • Control your vehicle speed. Realize that 30km/h speed is permitted during school hours and remain vigilant since your kid is observing all your deeds
  • Have ample patience. Drop your child near the sidewalk. Never allow them to dash from the middle of the road
  • Adhere to the safety laws. Have a consideration for other road users and school buses, especially when the lights are flashing

Relevance of Road Safety Awareness

Consequently, the rising city traffic and rural areas of the country has evidently increased the relevance of road safety education. Moreover, the road safety programs require the constant participation from students, and only with their participation, the road safety education become successful.

Meanwhile, the road safety education intends to provide awareness and impart education regarding the traffic rules to students. In addition, it is your responsibility to compel them to follow rules both as pedestrian and motorists. Furthermore, you can teach them to promptly contact the relevant authorities such as medical or transport aid, especially during  adverse circumstances.

In the meantime, road safety awareness is a team responsibility of students, teacher, school authorities, and parents. At the same time, each of them has had a unique role in rendering the safety awareness to students. As a parent and teacher, you should serve as a paradigm of the “ideal road user” to the students.

Thus, for instance,

  • While crossing the bustled streets, you should compulsorily hold the hands of your kids and forbid them running or walking ahead
  • Teach them to be aware of the ideal time to safely cross the road
  • Insist them to stay beside you, away from the road traffic
  • Emphasize the essential safety tips, which enable children to remain attentive on the road while crossing the busy roads
  • Advise them to choose the apt and safe place to cross the road
  • Provide a brief awareness of various road signs and motivate them to decide the right time to cross the road
  • Recount the essential safety rules in simple terms

Ask the following questions to your kid:

  • Where is the safest place to cross the road?
  • Before crossing the road, what is the mandatory activity that should be committed?
  • Is there a need for holding hands while crossing the road together?
  • Which is the excellent time to cross the road safely?
  • At what juncture, should you listen to vehicle sounds?

Presumably, while crossing the road, it is wise to construe each activity performed by you to your kids. Therefore, kid will recognize the significance of each safety rule.

What are the Common School Bus Traffic Stop Laws

School bus traffic laws are constituted for ensuring the safety of your kid. As a consequence, the student safety is the responsibility of every citizen. With the assistance of traffic stop laws, you will be able to ascertain the precaution you should follow as a motorist or road user for enhanced safety.

As per the law, every road user should remain patient and await for the stopped school bus to load or unload students, in such a way that students can alight or board safely. Require details regarding the school bus traffic stop laws? Let's check it out.

School Bus Stop Laws

Ordinarily, different states have different school bus stop laws. At the same time, every state demands the other drivers to wait until the school bus driver safely boards and alight students. Furthermore, if a stopped bus show flashing red lights, the vehicle in the opposite direction and the overtaking vehicle should calmly wait until the red light is off. Meanwhile, school crossing guards, school bus drivers, and traffic police have the authority to wave traffic on, even when the traffic light is flashing.

Of course, violations can cause hefty penalties such as amends, obtaining demerit points against the driver's license, and the suspension of the driver's license. On the other hand, it is essential for an officer to witness the violation, otherwise the violation will be annulled due to lack of evidence. Moreover, modern school buses are installed with cameras that promptly detect the illegal passing of vehicles.

 Safety tips for drivers from the Traffic State Administration

  • When you back out of a driveway or leave a garage, ensure that there is no child walking or bicycling to school
  • Be vigilant once you approach the areas near school zones as students will bustle out unexpectedly (a student's only motive is to reach the school on time)
  • Slow down your vehicle as the children will hike negligently, and be extra cautious to the roads without the sidewalks
  • Children who become late will never heed traffic and hence, you should be alert enough to evade accidents or injuries
  • Yellow flashing lights indicate that the school bus is preparing to stop for loading or unloading children
  • Red flashing lights with the stop arm warn motorists to wait patiently and should move only after red lights are turned off

 Safety tips for children from the Traffic State Administration

  • Reach the bus stop prior to the scheduled arrival time of a school bus
  • Stand at least 6 feet away from the curb and form a queue away from the road
  • Wait for the school bus to stop, open the doors, and gain approval from drivers that it is safe to board the school bus
  • If there is a requirement to cross the road, slowly move to the sidewalk, or walk along the side of the road in such a way that you are 10 feet ahead of the bus. Also, ensure bus drivers noticed you while you cross the road and receive appropriate guidance
  • Utilize handrails while boarding or alighting the school bus. In addition, be careful that your cloth is not having any draw strings or bag with straps that will have a chance to hang on the school bus doors
  • Never attempt to walk, move, or stand behind the school bus
  • Stand at least 3 giant steps away from the side of the bus
  • Provide adequate warning to drivers whenever you drop anything near the bus as they will not be able to easily notice you

Safety tips for parents and teachers from the Traffic State Administration

  • Parents should educate the above practices to augment the safety of school transportation
  • Teachers are responsible to teach children about safety rules for bicycling, walking, or riding a vehicle
  • Recommend safety resources to children in obtaining details regarding school bus safety

Usual queries of people regarding school bus traffic laws

1. Is it possible to turn in front of a school bus?

Every motorist must consider the school bus loading and unloading students. Nevertheless, it is lawful to turn away from a stopped school bus with lights flashing, it is extremely hazardous as there is an increased chance for students to jump in front of your vehicle unexpectedly.

2. What are the rules to be followed while stopping the school bus?

Ensure that your vehicle is in a stopped condition when the red lights on the school bus are flashing or the stop-arm is extended, especially, when your vehicle approach the school bus from the converse direction with minimum two lanes in each direction. Meanwhile, you are not supposed to overtake a school bus when its red or amber warning lights are glimmering.  

3. Is there any need of stopping for the school bus on a divided highway?

No, you are not required to stop your vehicle for the school bus with red lights flashing, especially when you are travelling in the opposite direction or the roadway, have several traffic lanes in it, and is separated by a median or solid barrier.

4. What is the nature of penalty for passing a stopped school bus illegally?

As per the Law, when a vehicle illegally passes the stopped school bus, the person who is driving the vehicle will be suspended for 90 days  for the first offense, and one year for the second offense, if the offense occurs within a period of five years.

5. Is there any penalty for passing a stopped school bus?

Yes, there is a penalty for overtaking a stopped school bus. However, it intends to vary from one state to another. For instance, usual punishments include a penalty ranging from $100 to $1000, taking away certain points from the license (varies from one state to another), seize the convict for a few months imprisonment, and a few months suspension of the driving license.

6. Can you pass a school bus with yellow flashing lights?

Yellow flashing light is a warning that indicates drivers is preparing to stop the school bus. Consequently, it is wise to stay cautious and be prepared to stop your vehicle.

As a matter of fact, students, teachers, parents, and traffic personnel are equally responsible for ensuring student safety on or around the school bus. Incidentally, rules are formed for the welfare of the society. Accordingly, school bus traffic stop laws are evidently created for the safety of students in the school bus. Therefore, as a responsible citizen, it is your duty to comply those rules and teach your kids regarding the importance of those rules.

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).

11 Strategies for Dealing with School Bus Discipline Issues

School bus discipline is an enormous issue confronted by the school bus drivers. As a member of school transportation management, it is your responsibility to maintain a proper discipline inside the bus and of course school bus is an extension of the classroom. However, the school bus discipline is the team effort and hence all the school authorities should work together for maintaining the school bus discipline.

Deputize school bus driver to oversee school bus discipline issues

By delegating authority to school bus driver in a school bus, you will be able to have a multitude of merits. One of the benefits is that the students will start respecting the school bus driver and obey them without further tantrums.

And, if drivers are given permission to contact the parents, students will be frightened and follow the rules effortlessly. Another reason for authorizing school bus drivers is that he is the only elder member, who is physically present on the school bus and the students will obey elders without trouble.

Preventative measures taken by school bus drivers

School bus drivers can either provide a consistent seat for rule breakers or re-seat the misbehaving students. However, it is established to be an excellent practice as students will realize their mistake quickly once they are separated or detached from their pals.

Nevertheless, you can implement positive reinforcement techniques (compliment them in front of their buddies) to encourage the young fellows for displaying the exceptional school bus behavior. At times, you can master a cool attitude by saying, "If you do not obey me, you will be seated beside me permanently". Consequently, this is enough for kids and they will never try to repeat the mischief again.

Consider the following strategies to handle students' behavior on the school bus:

  • Do not intimidate the entire students if only a few displays infraction
  • Handle individual behavioral problems privately
  • Evade physical force or threats
  • Obtain the assistance of the school principal and supervisor, and never adopt strict measures without the consent of the relevant authorities
  • Stop the school bus in a secured place, stand up and address the rule breaker in a polite tone
  • If needed, change the offender's seat to the front
  • Contact the principal or supervisor if the situation goes out of your hands
  • Provide gifts or awards to the students who displays exceptional behavior
  • Implement three strikes policy to manage behavioral issues
  • Create a healthy relationship with the students but never become "over-friendly"
  • Appoint a student coordinator for the school bus, which provides an immense support to you in managing the discipline inside the school bus

Can seat belts and video cameras assist you to ensure proper school bus discipline?

Seat belts on school buses are reported to have a positive impact on the disciplinary issues. Furthermore, with the implementation of seat belts, the unnecessary movement of students inside the school bus can be prevented.

As a result, students will be forced to sit forward and communicate with the students sitting beside them rather than stroll around in the moving bus, and switch their seats. Moreover, by installing seat belts, school bus bullying also reduced to a greater extent.

Every reputed school has installed video cameras to their school buses. And this enhanced the school bus behavior, as they are conscious of the fact that they are being monitored by the school authorities. Also, the video footage can serve as evidence if the guilty one denies the mistake.

As a matter of fact, each student are intended to follow the rules and regulations. At times, school authorities should persuade them to follow those rules for defending the school's reputation and credibility.

12 Essential Features of a School Bus Tracker App

School bus tracking is considered to be a popular term among the school authorities. With the school bus tracker app, your child will be able to experience enhanced safety and security. Consequently, parents, teachers, and other school transportation authorities obtain real-time data regarding the whereabouts of their kid via SMS and push notifications.

Here follows the essential features of a school bus tracker app:

  • School bus attendance

Usually, recording school bus attendance of each student is a tedious and tiresome task. The app records the child's attendance four times a day- when the student boards and descends the school bus, both in the morning and evening. However, without contacting the relevant authorities, parents will be able to view the attendance of their child through their app.

  • Route planning

With the support of tracker apps, you will be able to schedule the routes, choose the shortest route, and examine the chosen route. Also, the app enables the school authorities to avoid heavy traffic areas, construction areas, and hazardous areas. In addition to this, the school bus drivers will be able to confirm the route, and decide the number of stops in a single trip.

  • Track the real-time location of vehicle

When your child board the school bus, parents will be able to track their real-time location and monitor the route followed by the school bus driver. With the details, you can reach the pick up point location promptly.

  • Instant notifications

The tracker app intends to provide different kinds of notification- notification for over speeding, attendance, unscheduled stops, whenever your child boards or descends the bus, etc. And, thus you can have a detailed summary of your child's school bus trip.

  • Enhanced communication

With the introduction of a school bus tracker app, you will be able to augment the rapport between drivers, parents, and other school transportation officials. Meanwhile, you can communicate with them anytime from anywhere, without personally meeting them.

  • Details on pick up and drop point

Nevertheless, the drivers can procure the next destination details via the app along with the image and details of each student. Of course, whenever you confirm the trip, it will be transferred to the trip history. And, with the map feature, even the minute details of the trip can be retrieved effortlessly.

  • Veracious and error-free details

All the details received via the app will be accurate and devoid of errors. Once the student board the bus, you can view the details regarding their attendance and whereabouts in the real-time.

  • Announcements

Announcement feature is available for every modern school bus tracker app. With this remarkable feature, transportation managers as well as school authorities can send announcements to drivers whenever they desire. Furthermore, students will receive the birthday announcement whenever they board the school bus.

  • Recenter facility

This is a brand new feature in a school bus tracker app. With this feature, you can instantly update the pick up point whenever there is a relocation. And the new pick up point will be updated in the app until there is a further modification.

  • Pick-up point optimization

The pick-up point optimization feature enables you to update the pick up point based on the actual pick up point. Meanwhile, the pick up location will be altered in case of relocation.

  • Manifest feature

This innovative feature assists you to acquire details on pick up location, access route diagram indicating pick-up point location, list of students inside a school bus, etc. For instance, if a particular student is on leave, his/her pick-up details will not be displayed in the app.

  • Efficient school bus fleet management

With this feature, transport managers can check the scheduled trip for the next 3 hours. Moreover, they can also select the optimized school bus routes, appoint drivers, and allocate students for each school bus, monitor fleets, check the vehicle health, approve pick-up points, etc. effectively.

As a matter of fact, all the above mentioned features reinforce the school transportation services. With the advent of school bus tracker apps, the school bus operation became simple, feasible, and manageable.

Wi-Fi in School Bus: Are Buses Becoming Classrooms on Wheels?

 

Have you ever imagined school bus transportation with Wi-Fi? Till now, you may have thought of school means of transporting students to and from school. But today, in this world of technology, it is not a big deal to set Wi-Fi on school buses. Most of the school buses in US have already made Wi-Fi available to students.

 Evolution of Wi-Fi on school buses

At the beginning, Wi-Fi was used by students mainly for completing school work easily. Today, students are using the Internet to learn (online tutorials), complete projects, clear doubts and communicate with teachers anytime.

The only disadvantage is that students who are not residing near school are unable to get the advantage of Wi-Fi connection. But now, the situation has changed a lot. Now, school buses are parked in areas, where every student gets access to Internet services. This can be of great assistance to school-going students for completing school works (assignments, projects, prepare study notes) and for studies. Also, this subsequently helps to develop the learning capacity of students. 

Certainly, equipping school buses with Wi-Fi will also have a negative impact on school buses. Increased use of Wi-Fi can drain school bus batteries. But, this problem can be prevented by using solar panels. It has been proved helpful in certain districts in US. As the plan went successful, they installed Wi-Fi in 97 more school buses. When more students got Wi-Fi connection, the standard of education also got improved.

Another benefit of providing Wi-Fi connection to students in school buses is that there will be a significant reduction in discipline issues. Your child will never be bullied as bullies will get busy with Wi-Fi connection. Also, school bus drivers will never get distracted as students get less idle time.

Wi-Fi for better School Transportation

Wi-Fi not only provides Internet access to students but also helps in efficient school bus transportation Management. By using Internet, school authorities can inform drivers about route changes and student information by using school bus GPS tracking system. This also improves the communication between drivers and school authorities. Thus, it helps in ensuring student safety.

Obviously, school bus provides a crucial and impeccable service to students, parents as well as school authorities. As technology progresses, school buses should have more access to tools that help to ensure a perfect ride for students. This will not only keep them safe but also provides a good educational experience for your child.

Thus, Wi-Fi ensures safe school bus transportation and takes student's education to the next level.

Here are the key benefits of having Wi-Fi in school buses:

  • School bus becomes an extended classroom by  using the travel time productively 
  • Cheap, increased authenticity and easy to install cum manage
  • Quick connectivity in remote areas with fewer complexities
  • Your child will have control over Internet access especially, in the use of apps and websites 
  • Helps students to complete their school work by accessing Wi-Fi, especially the students who have a long school journey
  • As students become busy with Wi-Fi, there will be no behavioral issues in the school bus

Installation of Wi-Fi devices on school bus can provide better education for all students. A sense of equality arises between students, as the child who resides in remote areas also get Internet connection without much complication. This is because the antenna connected on school buses will have the ability to pull strong signals. 

“Wi-Fi- transforming travelling time to learning time”

 

Driver Behaviours that Cause School Bus Road Accidents

 

Everyone claims that school bus transportation is one of the safest means of transportation for students. Hence, school bus accidents are the last thing to happen on roads. Sometimes, improper driver behavior may be the root cause of road related accidents. It is an offence to ignore essential traffic rules and regulations, especially while driving a vehicle like school bus.

Some common driver behaviours that may cause school bus road accidents are as follows:

Over Speeding

The major reason for most of the road related accidents is over speeding. It is human psychology to excel in everything; hence, there are certain drivers who never want any other vehicle to overtake them. But, they never think that student road safety is in their hands.

When the vehicle speed increases, naturally, the risk for accidents also increases. As a school bus driver, it is your responsibility to take care of students in the school bus and move in the permitted speed. When you increase speed, your judgement power decreases, thereby, causing accidents or crashes.

Drunken Driving

Even though drunken driving is prohibited, you will be able to witness several school bus drivers consuming alcohol while on duty. It is a big mistake to mix alcohol with driving. This is because alcohol reduces your concentration and thereby, decreases reaction time of a normal human body. Sometimes, your vision becomes blurred, which ultimately leads to crashes. 

As per the reports, for every increase of 0.05% blood alcohol concentration, the risk of accident increases. Hence, when a situation arises where you get boozed up, it is wise to approach someone else to drive your vehicle. 

Distraction to driver

 While driving a vehicle, distraction can be a dreadful enemy for you. Distractions can be from inside or outside the school bus. Students are normally noisy and this will be a great distraction for you. Similarly, the usage of mobile phones can also create a fair lot of distraction. 

When you attend a phone call, a major portion of your brain's concentration level focuses on that call and only the remaining portion focuses on driving the vehicle. This is a dangerous situation as it not only averts the reaction time, but it also reduces the ability to judge the hazard. All you can do if you need to attend the call is to park the vehicle on the side of the road and then, attend the call. This can ensure your safety as well as student safety.

Other distractions on the road include :

  • Adjusting mirrors at the time of driving the school bus
  • Playing stereo or radio loudly on the school bus
  • Animals crossing the road
  • Banner ads and bill boards

You will stay safe, if you move your vehicle slowly and avoid the distraction listed above.

Red Light Jumping

It is a common sight that vehicles cross at the intersection without caring the traffic lights. As a school bus driver, you have to save time; but, it doesn't mean that you should ignore the traffic rules unnecessarily. There is a wrong prejudice that stopping for red signal is wastage of money, time, and fuel. But, the truth is that, when you follow traffic signals properly, you will reach the destination safely and on time. 

When you ever try to jump on red lights, you are not only risking your own safety but also the safety of fellow beings on the road. It is found that whenever you attempt red light jumping, you may lose the ability to see the ongoing traffic,thereby, leading to serious accidents.

Avoiding Safety Gears

Use of safety gears is a must for ensuring school bus safety. You may avoid it as you think it as irritating. It is found that usage of safety gears can help you to survive accidents. Hence, it is better to take appropriate safety measures before starting school bus transportation.

When the above behaviors are carefully handled, rate of school bus related accidents can be reduced to a greater extend. As a responsible school bus driver, it is your prime duty to save the students, who are the future of the country.

Hawaii State Installs Cameras in School Buses

 

Hawaii State has decided to install the video surveillance system on every school bus this year. The Hawaii Department of Education reported that camera installation is an addition to the GPS system in school bus for assisting school bus drivers in routing and ensuring safety.

 Dann Carlson, Hawaii Department of Education (DOE) official, said that installation of camera is an important step in creating a safe environment for students. He added that this decision was not taken against students, but is an essential safety measure for student transportation.

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The Education Department contributed $62 million to install cameras in school buses. And it was reported that security cameras have already been installed in both Hawaii and Oahu islands.

Carlos claimed that most of the school buses in Hawaii are equipped with GPS, helping him to locate each school bus in Hawaii.

Source

Punjab and Haryana High Court Inquires Report on the Appointment of Female Attendants in School Buses

 

The Punjab and Haryana High Court ask reports for school authorities regarding the appointment of female attendant within three days. This direction was circulated by the special division bench under the supervision of justice Surya Kant and justice Ajay Tiwari.

This committee took this decision while discussing the issues regarding the implementation of policies on school transportation. During the hearing, the Punjab and Haryana High Court decided to appoint female attendants in school bus carrying female students whereas a male attendant for the school bus carrying male students.

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In addition to this, the High Court mentioned that there will be joint inspections done by transport departments as well as child rights protection commission to ensure that the policies have been followed or not.

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