Bus Briefs — 4/17/08
Bus driver stays focused during fight with breast cancer LEOMINSTER, Mass. — School bus driver Pat Leblanc, who was diagnosed with breast...
Bus driver stays focused during fight with breast cancer
LEOMINSTER, Mass. — School bus driver Pat Leblanc, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in October, continues to drive her route as she undergoes daily radiation treatments. She said the work and the students keep her focused. To read the full story, click here.
Road workers stop runaway school bus
MONROE, Mich. — Two road workers entered a moving school bus and brought it to a stop after the driver had reportedly gone into diabetic shock. None of the 31 students on board was injured during the incident. To read the full story, click here.
Bus driver safely evacuates students before bus catches fire
ASHEBORO, N.C. — School bus driver Melissa Adams evacuated 35 students from her bus minutes before it became engulfed in flames during a recent afternoon run. Investigators said that the fire started in the bus’ engine. To read the full story, click here.
More Safety

When Every Second Matters, Clarity Keeps Routes Moving
From routine delays to urgent incidents, strong communication practices help drivers, dispatchers, schools, and families respond with confidence.
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What Happens When a School Bus Catches Fire — and What Can Help
School bus fires are rare but can be devastating. Learn how advances in fire suppression and asset protection help fleets detect fires earlier, reduce damage, and improve safety.
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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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