Bus Briefs
Delaware sees drop in number of bus crashes DOVER, Del. — The number of school bus crashes in Delaware decreased by about 39 percen...
Delaware sees drop in number of bus crashes
DOVER, Del. — The number of school bus crashes in Delaware decreased by about 39 percent in the past five school years, according to state officials. The state logged 212 bus crashes in the 1998-99 school year and about 130 in 2003-04. Ron Love, school transportation supervisor for Delaware, said the state may end this school year with fewer crashes than last year’s 130, as the current estimate is about 61.
Two men hijack school bus in southern Florida
MIAMI — Two armed men allegedly hijacked a school bus in early March. According to the driver, they approached the bus while it was stopped at a light. After pulling a gun and demanding that she open the door, the men forced her to drive along several streets. Eventually, the men exited the bus without harming the driver. No students were on the bus during the incident.
Wisconsin gives parents access to bus driver names
MILWAUKEE — A new state law will require that names of school bus drivers be made available to parents and also will make provisions for criminal background checks on drivers every four years. In the past, names of bus drivers were not available to parents, and drivers’ backgrounds were checked only at time of hire and at the eight-year renewal mark.
Family of teen killed in crash files lawsuit
LOUSIA, Va. — The parents of a teenager killed in a school bus crash earlier this year filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver and the school board. The suit claims that “recklessness, carelessness and/or negligence” on the part of driver Lorrie Ann Batten led to the crash, in which the bus hit a tree. The family asked for $10 million in damages.
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Geotab Launches Tool to Help Fleets Investigate Road Incidents
Geotab Investigations combines telematics data, video, documents, and other evidence to help fleets reconstruct incidents, resolve claims, and determine what happened.
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Texas Sixth Grader Wins 2026 National School Bus Safety Poster Contest
Sai Darshana Yekolu of Moseley Middle School in Prosper, Texas, was named the newest winner for her artwork, bringing the theme of “Safe Rides, Everyday Heroes” to life.
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Doing More With Less: How Transportation Directors Can Prioritize Safety Amid Budget Uncertainty
With diesel prices soaring and nearly one-third of transportation directors expecting budget cuts, maintaining student safety has never been more challenging. Download this guide to learn how leading districts are prioritizing risk, funding critical safety technology, and building stronger budget cases with data.
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Walton County Schools Adds Gatekeeper Stop-Arm Enforcement System
The Florida district will deploy Gatekeeper’s updated Student Protector technology, which now incorporates AI to improve video evidence.
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How To Build a More Secure School Bus Yard During and After Hours
As thefts and overnight security threats continue, school transportation leaders are combining stronger operational practices with AI-enabled surveillance to better protect buses, facilities, and staff.
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FMCSA Names New Chief Safety Officer: What School Bus Operators Should Know
Steve Dowling is set to lead the federal agency's efforts to advance commercial motor vehicle safety and reduce crashes, fatalities, and injuries on the nation's roadways.
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New Study Finds School Zone Speed Safety Cameras Cut Speeding Violations 97%
A Florida university's research demonstrates that Verra Mobility's automated enforcement changes driver behavior and significantly improves school zone safety.
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What Changed in DOT’s New National Roadway Safety Strategy?
The federal agency's new plan shifts its focus to safer people, roads and vehicles, with a new three-pronged approach instead of five. One outlined action even addresses a key industry concern around illegal school bus passing.
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