New York bus drivers gear up for safety competition

VALLEY COTTAGE, N.Y. — School bus drivers from around the state will convene here next month for the 42nd Annual New York State School Bus Safety Competition.

The event, which will be held at Rockland Lake State Park on May 18, is being organized by the New York School Bus Contractors Association (NYSBCA).

“Safety has always been and will always be the top priority of the school transportation industry,” NYSBCA President Phil Vallone said. “This annual competition brings together the top school bus drivers from New York and bus safety experts to share our knowledge, improve our skills and increase the safety of our passengers.“

The competition for the 125 drivers will begin with a written exam on school bus safety. They will then move on to a road course, where their skills will be tested in a variety of situations. Officials said each driver will choose from a range of vehicles that will include conventional school buses (Type C), transit-style buses (Type D) and conventional vans (Type A).

“While it’s a fun day focused on safety, it’s also a serious competition,” Vallone said. “Scoring well in this bus safety competition is a source of pride for the drivers, for their school bus contractors and for their schools.”

The winners of the competition can move on to participate in the School Bus Driver International Safety Competition in Tulsa, Okla., from July 19-20. Or, they can choose to participate in the New York Association for Pupil Transportation Safety Competition in Albany, N.Y., on July 13.