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SEARCHSchool Bus Fleet surveyed school transportation professionals from Colorado to New York to get a sense of what the most serious concerns are when it comes to school bus safety.
Respondents from across the United States shared their insights about safety in school transportation.
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In a recent survey by School Bus Fleet, school transportation professionals cited student behavior as the most significant factor affecting safety on the school bus and indicated that they felt great confidence in bus drivers carrying students to and from school each day.
Several respondents also called for requiring stop-arm cameras on all school buses to deter illegal passing by motorists and others urged the federal government to mandate seat belts.
Ahead of October’s National School Bus Safety Week, examine the results of this survey to gain insights into what’s happening in school transportation operations throughout the United States.
Half of our respondents ranked student behavior above other safety concerns, including illegal passing of school buses with their stop arms extended.
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Most respondents (91%) gave their district high marks when it came to overall safety of their transportation operations.
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More than two-thirds of respondents (68%) indicated that their transportation operations saw at least a few isolated safety incidents during the past year.
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Respondents were split between high marks for communication and lower ratings, with 36% falling in the middle.
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All respondents felt it was important – many critically so – to collaborate with schools, parents, and law enforcement to address safety concerns.
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Half the respondents indicated that more safety measures could be helpful in certain areas or along specific routes.
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More than two-thirds of respondents (69%) indicated that setting up designated drop-off/pick-up zones is most effective at mitigating traffic congestion.
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Most respondents (91%) expressed significant confidence in the skills of school bus drivers in their operations.
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Enhanced driver training and monitoring.
Cameras to monitor student behavior.
Improved emergency evacuation procedures.
Seat belts for all students.
Stop-arm cameras.
Respondents gave a wide variety of answers, but these were the top five suggestions.
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