First Student Kicks Off 2nd Safety Dog Bus Tour
The nationwide tour uses interactive activities to teach safe bus riding basics to elementary school students and their parents.

At First Student’s Safety Dog Bus Tour stops, students can pose for a photo with Safety Dog and take part in interactive safety activities.

At First Student’s Safety Dog Bus Tour stops, students can pose for a photo with Safety Dog and take part in interactive safety activities.
With a new school year beginning, school transportation provider First Student is spotlighting safe school bus behavior with its second annual Safety Dog Bus Tour.
The nationwide tour uses interactive activities to teach safe bus riding basics to elementary school students and their parents.
“Student safety is at the heart of everything we do,” First Student President Dennis Maple said. “The Safety Dog Bus Tour encourages the best possible start to the school year by engaging thousands of students and parents within the communities we serve and reinforcing valuable safety messages in a fun and memorable way.”
This year, the tour has been expanded to partner with nine school districts, including the first stop in Canada. Tour stops include:
• Buffalo (N.Y.) Public Schools
• Halton Student Transportation Services, Ontario, Canada
• New Haven (Conn.) Public Schools
• McLean County Unit District No. 5, Normal, Illinois
• Olathe (Kan.) Public Schools
• San Francisco Unified School District
• Seattle Public Schools
• Wausau (Wis.) School District
• Woodland Hills School District, North Braddock, Pennsylvania
At the tour stops, students can explore a First Student school bus; walk a yellow carpet and pose for a photo with Safety Dog, the safety mascot for First Student; sign a safety pledge; and leave with a bag of goodies.
Parents can learn about what makes school buses the safest way to transport their children to and from school.
This year, stop-arm safety will be a point of emphasis. The tour aims to remind motorists that they, too, have a key role in keeping school bus riders safe.
Tour dates, times, locations, safety tips, and downloadable activities for students and parents are available at safetydogbustour.com.
The 2016 Safety Dog Bus Tour kicks off on Aug. 16 in Olathe.
More Safety

From Reactive to Proactive: Making Every Ride Visible
Smart technology only delivers its full value when it works together. See how Catalyst connects proven industry platforms to move student transportation from reactive to proactive.
Read More →
HAAS Alert’s Safety Cloud Warns Motorists of Stopped School Buses
Through a transponder or Samsara connection, the product lets school bus fleets send advance warnings to approaching drivers through in-vehicle alerts.
Read More →
HopSkipDrive Reports Progress on Safety Advisory Council
More than a year after forming the council, independent safety experts have helped shape new rider-safety features and policy progress, with a new goal to address rider behavior.
Read More →
What the 2026 National School Bus Safety Month Resolution Means for Student Transportation
The bipartisan resolution highlights illegal school bus passing, student safety during loading and unloading, and the need for driver training and public education.
Read More →
School Bus Stop-Arm Violations Decline 53% Across Verra Mobility Programs
Verra Mobility shares how school bus stop-arm cameras and school zone safety programs are changing driver behavior, reducing violations, and protecting students.
Read More →
Most Bus Crashes Aren’t Your Fault. Here’s How to Prove It.
A guide for what to do in between a school bus crash and a claim: what to preserve, who to notify, and how to keep the facts available when they matter.
Read More →
National School Bus Safety Week 2026: Tips, Toolkits & Resources to Keep Students Safe
School bus safety takes more than awareness. Explore expert tips, enforcement strategies, and free resources to help protect students on every ride.
Read More →
2 Killed, Dozens Injured in Florida School Bus Crash
A multi-vehicle collision caused a Polk County school bus carrying 37 students to overturn on its way to Winter Haven High School.
Read More →
Illegal School Bus Passing Drops 24% in New York Districts
With fewer than 5% of citations involving repeat offenders, Westchester County officials said enforcement, education, and community partnerships are helping change driver behavior.
Read More →
School's Back. Here's What Happened to Traffic, Speeding & Distraction
What happens to traffic when school resumes? New data analysis examines changes in distracted driving, congestion, and speeding around schools.
Read More →

