As student transportation demand surges nationwide, HopSkipDrive’s latest safety data shows how scaling and safety can go hand in hand.

Data from HopSkipDrive’s seventh annual Safety Report reveals that in 2025, 99.7% of rides were completed without a safety incident. This consistent benchmark was maintained while the alternative transportation company doubled its partner network to serve over 2,000 school districts, government agencies, and nonprofits nationwide.

The 2025 report reveals a 99.99% accident-free record and a 0.000% critical safety incident rate, which is supported by more than 50 proactive safety products and a track record of over 130 million safe miles driven since the company’s founding.

According to a company release, this “vast experience includes a deep commitment to specialized populations.” HopSkipDrive has safely facilitated nearly 3 million rides for youth in foster care and 1.7 million rides for students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). The company’s work also extends to millions more rides for students in career and technical education, general education, after-school activities, and extracurriculars.

“Safety has never been a secondary checklist item for us. The need for safe transportation is a core reason HopSkipDrive exists,” said Joanna McFarland, CEO and co-founder. “Since day one, we’ve led the industry by staying ahead of the curve, constantly innovating the specialized care we provide to the children and families who depend on us.”

HopSkipDrive’s Key Product Developments From 2025

To maintain this record while scaling, HopSkipDrive introduced several key product developments in 2025:

• Achieved SOC 2 Type II compliance, making HopSkipDrive one of the first supplemental student transportation platforms to achieve this high-level security attestation for data and privacy.
• Nationwide specialty transportation expansion, which scales wheelchair-accessible vehicle (WAV) and Rider Assistant support to districts across the country.
• Specialized driver education, featuring a neurodiversity-focused curriculum developed with child development experts to support students with diverse sensory and behavioral needs.
• Qualitative video screening, a new addition to the 15-point CareDriver certification process, is designed to evaluate situational judgment and empathy.
• Enhanced “Must Be Met” protocols, which provide a vital safety net by requiring specific verification for safe student handoffs to authorized adults.
• Caregiver Great Start Program, a proactive outreach initiative designed to ensure 100% of eligible families are equipped with safety protocols and ride-tracking features before their first trip.
• Dedicated rider support line, providing students with direct text or call access to the Safe Ride Support team for autonomy and peace of mind.
• Advanced CareDriver qualifications, a verified in-app system ensuring rides requiring specialized training or equipment are only matched with expert CareDrivers.

“In 2025, we demonstrated our ability to significantly scale our impact while maintaining a near-perfect safety record,” McFarland said. “This data reflects the tireless work of our team and CareDrivers, who lead with a simple, personal standard: ‘What would it take to put our own children in this car?’ This results-driven culture ensures that as we get bigger, we also get better, safer, and more inclusive.”

What’s Coming in 2026?

In 2026, HopSkipDrive is evolving its platform with offerings focused on technology and enhanced oversight through advanced recording. For example, Track My Ride allows riders to monitor their own journeys via secure, masked SMS links, while Ride Recording: In-App provides a secure, integrated audio and visual recording system within the CareDriver app to complement the company’s existing dashcams.

To understand the unique needs of the students being transported, HopSkipDrive’s Safety Advisory Council provides the company with an externally led expert framework to inform its end-to-end safety protocols.

The complete 2025 Safety Report demonstrates HopSkipDrive’s ongoing commitment to transparency and continuous improvement. In the coming weeks, the company will introduce additional 2026 initiatives.