SBF 70 years logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Industry groups denounce Nissan’s ‘school bus race’ ad

A Nissan commercial that shows a father and son racing a yellow bus to school has sparked a backlash from NAPT and others involved in pupil transportation.

Thomas McMahon
Thomas McMahonExecutive Editor
April 16, 2015
Industry groups denounce Nissan’s ‘school bus race’ ad

A Nissan commercial that shows a father and son racing a yellow bus to school has sparked a backlash from NAPT and others involved in pupil transportation.

2 min to read


A Nissan commercial that shows a father and son racing a yellow bus to school has sparked a backlash from some pupil transportation groups.

In the ad, a man driving his son in a Nissan Altima pulls up to a school bus stop just in time to see the driver shut the door and pull away. The father then proceeds to race the bus to school, and the son exults as he steps out of the car just as the bus arrives.

Ad Loading...

Mike Martin, executive director of the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT), wrote a message to Nissan in which he says that the commercial “sends all the wrong messages to the motoring public, especially to parents whose children use what in reality is America's largest and safest system of mass transportation — school buses.”

Martin refers to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to inform the car manufacturer that “the school bus is considerably safer than riding in the family car, even a Nissan Altima.”

Martin told SBF on Thursday that he had not yet received a response from Nissan. However, his message, also posted on NAPT’s Facebook page, drew more than a dozen comments in support of the association’s stance.

The New York Association for Pupil Transportation (NYAPT) had a similar reaction to the ad.

“We join NAPT in expressing our outrage over this Nissan commercial,” NYAPT wrote on its Facebook page.

Ad Loading...

View the Nissan “school bus race” ad below.

More Management

A red, white, and blue graphic with pictures of Thomas Gray and text reading "Honoring U.S. Veterans: Thomas Gray's Story."
Managementby Elora HaynesMay 4, 2026

What Happens When Battle-Tested Leadership Meets Student Transportation?

See how Thomas Gray brings Marine Corps discipline and logistics expertise to Dayton Public Schools in this article celebrating National Military Appreciation Month.

Read More →
Close-up of fuel pump nozzles at a gas station, representing rising diesel costs and fuel management challenges for school bus fleets.

Diesel Prices Spike: Tips to Cut Fuel Costs with Data and New Geotab Tools

With diesel prices up 46%, new Geotab analysis points to tools that help fleets reduce idling, detect fuel anomalies, and recover hidden fuel costs across operations.

Read More →
School Bus Fleet leadership update graphic featuring Transit Technologies and headshots of Lisa Horkins, Nunu Dueman Yates, Michael Lei, Srithal Bellary, and Cristina Wheless.
Managementby News/Media ReleaseApril 30, 2026

Transit Technologies Announces New Executive Appointments

The Bytecurve and busHive parent company has multiple new faces on its executive team as the company focuses on AI platform growth.

Read More →
photo of a woman seated at a desk talking to a man, looking at a tablet
Managementby News/Media ReleaseApril 29, 2026

IC Bus Introduces ‘My International’ to Connect Fleet Vehicles, Data, and Service

Available on desktop or mobile, the digital ecosystem brings fleet monitoring, service management, vehicle insights, and dealer communication into a single interface.

Read More →
A graphic with an image of a school bus's rear bumper, a Transfinder logo, and text reading "More District Installs Across the U.S."
Managementby StaffApril 29, 2026

More Districts Tap Transfinder for Routing, Tracking, and Communication Tools

See which users in Illinois, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania are adopting Transfinder’s routing, tracking, and parent apps.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Sonim XP5plus 5G rugged mobile radio device on orange background labeled “New Product,” highlighting push-to-talk communication and durability for school bus fleet operations.
ManagementApril 28, 2026

AT&T, Sonim Launch XP5plus 5G LMR Device for School Bus Fleets

The new radio combines durability, push-to-talk, and FirstNet connectivity, offering a cost-effective communication solution for fleets.

Read More →
EverDriven graphic over a mountain landscape highlighting high caregiver trust and Washington State milestone, emphasizing student transportation safety, reliability, and service growth.
Managementby News/Media ReleaseApril 23, 2026

EverDriven Celebrates Milestones in Washington; Caregiver Trust Tops 80%

EverDriven marks 18 years and 17 million miles in the Evergreen state while new data shows 8 in 10 caregivers would recommend its student transportation solution.

Read More →
A woman holds a tablet and waves at children disembarking a school bus.
Managementby StaffApril 21, 2026

Zum Raises $100 Million, Cites ‘Transportation Anxiety Crisis’ in New Research

New funding and national research highlight student transportation challenges as Zum looks to scale its Connected Mobility Experience platform nationwide.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
a line of pro-vision employees stand in front of branded company vans
Managementby News/Media ReleaseApril 21, 2026

Pro-Vision Video Installs Now Backed by MECP-Certified Techs

The certification validates expertise in complex vehicle technology installations, making it the first fleet video solutions provider to achieve the milestone.

Read More →