School Bus Safety

Three Ways To Mitigate Risk in Pupil Transportation

Transporting students is one of the most visible facets of school operations. Think about what happens when a youngster is left on a school bus. It's on the six o'clock news and raises parental and public concern about all aspects of pupil transportation.

According to the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services, school bus transportation is safer by all statistical measures than any other form of transportation. Students traveling on a school bus are six times safer than those in family cars, and school buses account for the fewest fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles. With statistics like these, it is easy to become complacent about the degree of risk involved in school bus operations.

School district administrators and Boards of Education should, however, always keep in mind that according to the National Coalition for School Bus Safety, each year some 17,000 students are sent to hospital emergency rooms as the result of school bus accidents. The adverse consequences of a school bus accident in which only one student is injured can be significant in terms of legal liability and financial impact. Good plans can help provide defense against lawsuits in the event of a minor accident or major tragedy.

Here are just three elements every plan should include:

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Managing Risk: Active Shooter Incidents in Schools and Colleges

New American School Safety course addresses the safety-critical issues of security, emergency planning, and crisis response.

"Managing Risk: Active Shooter Incidents in Schools and Colleges," offers educators responsible for student and staff safety a practical approach to improve site-based security plans. It's designed to save lives if there's a gun-carrying perpetrator in or on school property by teaching school personnel about prevention and response.

By examining real-world incidents, and identifying best-practice strategies and tactics, the course prepares educators to develop robust, effective, defensible policies and procedures. It covers plans to deter attacks and, in the event of an actual shooting, procedures aimed at minimizing casualties before public safety responders arrive at the scene. Participants learn about critical, and often unrecognized, factors in active shooter incidents, including:

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Prevention is the Best Defense

Driver's Alert

American School Safety is constantly on the look-out for products and services that will strengthen school safety and security programs. When it comes to school bus safety, we think a driver monitoring program can help schools save lives and avoid the potentially substantial liability costs associated with bus accidents.

The "How's My Driving" decal is one of the best-recognized in the United States. Since it was established in 1989, Driver's Alert has grown to become the nation's leading and largest "1-800 How's My Driving" provider. Today, the company monitors over 500,000 vehicles for small and large fleets across a wide range of business and industries.

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