HUDSON, Ohio — School Bus Safety Co. has revamped its training program on danger zones, and is providing free copies to any North American pupil transporter.

The company has made changes to its Danger Zones Training Program to re-emphasize the need for bus drivers to ensure that students are following proper crossing procedures.

Jeffrey Cassell, the chief operating officer of School Bus Safety Co., referred in a news release to recent findings on student fatalities from the Kansas State Department of Education’s (KSDE’s) School Bus Safety Unit loading and unloading survey. It found that six of eight danger zone fatalities that occurred during the 2016-17 school year happened while students were crossing the street. (The KSDE’s recently released survey of the 2017-18 school year found six student danger zone deaths.)  

He added that his company has learned that correct crossing procedures are not always followed.

“We have spoken with a number of safety leaders in our industry, [and] they estimate the correct crossing procedure is only being enforced for less than 50% of student crossings,” Cassell said.

The updated, video-based training program is designed to address all aspects of reducing risk in and around danger zones with a stronger focus on the correct crossing procedure.

To request a free copy of the program, go here.