On July 15, the National Safety Council (NSC) announced the winners of its 2026 "Our Driving Concern Texas Employer Traffic Safety Awards," which honors organizations for their commitment to roadway safety for their employees and all roadway users.

Transportation incidents were the leading cause of fatal workplace injuries in Texas in 2024, accounting for 43% of occupational fatalities, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Eleven total employers were recognized by NSC for their demonstrated leadership, employee engagement, measurable safety outcomes and innovative approaches to roadway safety. Among them were two school districts: Prosper ISD for Innovation in Traffic Safety Practices and Rockwall ISD for Employee Engagement in Traffic Safety.

Prosper Independent School District: Innovation in Traffic Safety Practices

With a swift uptick in students and faculty, Prosper ISD doesn’t take the safety implications that come with new faces lightly. By spotlighting every voice, utilizing robust safety measures, and incorporating innovative ways to strengthen safety culture, Prosper ISD motivates everyone to remember what is important.

Director of Transportation Teri Mapengo said they are honored to receive the award, which is a direct result of the intentional work the department has done to build a strong safety culture. "While policies and procedures are important, we've focused just as much on creating a mindset where every employee understands that safety is everyone's responsibility," she said. "We've also worked hard to make safety engaging rather than just another requirement. By celebrating successes, recognizing employees who go above and beyond, and creating opportunities for hands-on learning, we've seen safety become part of our department's culture instead of simply a compliance checklist.

Some of the district's transportation initiatives include:

• Monthly safety meetings focused on real-world learning and continuous improvement.
• Annual behind-the-wheel training for all drivers, coaches, and transportation staff to keep skills sharp.
• Ongoing ride-alongs and coaching opportunities to reinforce safe driving practices.
• Emergency evacuation and scenario-based training that prepares employees for situations they may actually encounter.
• An Accountability Pre-Trip program that reinforces thorough vehicle inspections through random checks and positive recognition.
• CPR instructor certification for our in-house trainers so we can provide lifesaving training to our own team.
• A Safety Suggestion Box that encourages employees to share ideas and helps make safety a collaborative effort.
• Strong partnerships with our Risk Management, Student Services, and Safety & Security departments to ensure we are approaching student transportation from every angle.

One result Prosper ISD is especially proud of is their continued reduction in preventable accidents over the past several years. "Despite serving one of the fastest-growing school districts in Texas with a rapidly expanding fleet, more drivers, and increased daily operations, we achieved a 42.5% reduction in preventable accidents during our first year of focused safety initiatives," Mapengo told School Bus Fleet. "We built on that success the following year with an additional 24% reduction, demonstrating that a strong safety culture and continuous improvement can produce measurable results, even while experiencing significant growth. We believe those results reflect our team's unwavering commitment to keeping our students, staff, and community safe every day."

Rockwall Independent School District: Employee Engagement in Traffic Safety

As a large school district in Texas, leadership at Rockwall Independent School District understood that safeguarding its students, faculty and other roadway users would require carefully planned and executed strategies. Rockwall ISD developed a comprehensive safety action plan, strengthened its training protocol and continues to recognize stakeholder impact and provide innovative resources that underscore student safety and wellbeing.

In response to an uptick in at fault incidents, Rockwall Independent School District launched a comprehensive, hands-on safety initiative in August 2025. More than 250 team members across two locations participated in wheelchair equipment practice, evacuation and fire response drills, and seat belt cutter demonstrations.

Rockwall transportation staff embraced updated practices and tools designed to elevate safety performance. Key steps included:

• Adding two new positions to expand the training team
• Conducting behind the wheel evaluations and ride-along coaching sessions
• Updating the district safety handbook with clearer guidance on safe walking distances for students in special programs
• Implementing Wayfinder tablets to improve route navigation, student load/unload accuracy and real time access to safety information

These efforts produced an immediate impact, contributing to a 10% year over year reduction in incidents. Crossing guards and bus drivers played a vital role, supported by regular communication and engagement opportunities such as potlucks, Fuel Up the Bus sessions and Coffee with the Director. Safe driving achievements are celebrated through a district gift card rewards program.

Through an award-winning grants program, Rockwall leaders have developed sensory kits that offer students personalized items to help them manage noise, traffic and other challenges of the bus environment.

Learn more about the awards and best practice tips from all the winners on NSC's website.