Pennsylvania School Bus Drivers Prep for Safety Competition

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — More than 90 school bus drivers from across Pennsylvania will converge here this weekend to take part in the 2016 Pennsylvania School Bus Driver Safety Competition.

This year marks a milestone for the Pennsylvania competition: its 40th anniversary. The event will be held at Mount Nittany Middle School in State College on Friday and Saturday.

Drivers compete locally to earn a spot in the state competition. The top four winners earn a chance to compete at the School Bus Driver International Safety Competition, which will be held in Greensboro, North Carolina, in July.

Pennsylvania drivers will arrive in State College on Friday evening for an orientation, which will be followed by the written exam portion of the competition.

On Saturday morning, the participants will return to the middle school for the skills competition. The drivers are tested in numerous skill areas, including physical and verbal bus inspection, height judgment, diminishing clearance, simulated bus stop, railroad crossings, backing up, and curb line parking.

“We are excited to be celebrating the safety competition’s 40th anniversary,” said Dallas Krapf, chair of the event. “The success we have achieved with this event is due to the support we have received over the past 40 years from school bus contractors, school districts, equipment providers, and our other industry partners. The volunteers who give up their time to be here, along with the financial support we receive, help make this all possible.”