Cynthia Peters (center), the winner in the Conventional Bus (Type C) category, is shown here with NYSBCA President Corey Muirhead (right).
2 min to read
Cynthia Peters (center), the winner in the Conventional Bus (Type C) category, is shown here with NYSBCA President Corey Muirhead (right).
LATHAM, N.Y. — The New York School Bus Contractors Association (NYSBCA) announced the top finishers in the 48th Annual New York State School Bus Safety Competition, held on Saturday in Valley Cottage.
“The 48th Annual New York State School Bus Safety Competition, the largest and only statewide competition of its kind in New York, was a huge success,” said Corey Muirhead, president of the NYSBCA. “Every driver who took part in the competition not only demonstrated tremendous knowledge about student safety, they displayed exceptional driving skills that set the standard for all school bus drivers to follow.”
Ad Loading...
Nearly 80 drivers took part in the competition. Each competed in a specific school bus division, from large buses (Type C and Type D) to smaller vehicles (Type A).
The day began with a comprehensive written exam on school bus safety, and throughout the afternoon drivers tested their skills with a variety of hands-on activities, including vehicle inspections, loading and unloading students, operating a school bus through various driving courses, and managing railroad crossings.
Here are this year’s winners in each category:
Conventional Bus (Type C): 1st: Cynthia Peters, Huntington Coach Corp. 2nd: Karen Lucadamo, Suffolk Transportation Service 3rd: Woody Rexford, Rolling V Bus Corp. 4th: Joyce Olenick, We Transport/Towne Bus 5th: Adene DuBois, We Transport
Small Bus (Type A): 1st: Marlon Forrester, Towne Bus 2nd: Yvenson Maignan, Chestnut Ridge Transportation – Spring Valley 3rd: Shannon Darragh, We Transport/Towne Bus 4th: Charmaine Noronha, Suffolk Transportation Service 5th: James J. Baumer, We Transport
Ad Loading...
Transit Bus (Type D): 1st: Jose Torres, We Transport/Towne Bus 2nd: Dan Farley, Quality Bus/Durham School Services 3rd: Ralph Stephens, Rolling V Bus Corp. 4th: Jenny Reinoso, Suffolk Transportation Service 5th: Joseph Cherubin, Chestnut Ridge Transportation – Pomona
2019 Rookie of the Year: Marlon Forrester, Towne Bus
“These drivers are the very reason why a school bus is the safest vehicle on the road,” Muirhead added.
He also said that students are about 70 times more likely to get to school safely when taking a school bus instead of traveling by car.
The winners of the competition are now eligible to compete in the National School Transportation’s (NSTA) International School Bus Driver Safety Competition in Austin, Texas, on July 20 and 21.
A Williamsburg community is mourning after a child was fatally struck by a private yeshiva bus, prompting calls for urgent safety improvements at the high-traffic crossing.
The new data shows 99.99% incident-free trips and strong on-time performance, reinforcing how dependable transportation, especially for vulnerable student populations, can help districts combat chronic absenteeism.
Driver shortages, safety expectations, and staffing limits define student transportation in 2026. New survey data shows how fleet leaders are responding.
The federal agency's report asks NHTSA to require all new school buses to be equipped with vehicle-integrated alcohol detection systems and passenger lap-shoulder belts.
Student transportation teams are being asked to do more with less, facing driver shortages, rising costs, and increasing safety expectations. This report uncovers how fleets are adapting, where technology is making the biggest impact, and why student ridership tracking is emerging as a top priority. Download the report to explore the key trends shaping 2026 and what they mean for your operation.
A Carroll County accident claimed the lives of two students and injured over a dozen others on a March 27 field trip for eighth graders at Clarksville-Montgomery County. A preliminary report adds new information to the story.
From driver shortage solutions in Tennessee and rural connectivity debates in Utah to new safety laws in Wisconsin and ongoing electric bus mandate discussions in New York and Connecticut, here’s the latest in school bus legislation across the U.S.
Waymo’s self-driving vehicles are under fire again after repeated school bus passing violations, raising questions about safety, remote operators, and regulation.
Distracted driving continues to pose serious risks in school zones, with new data and driver insights highlighting ongoing concerns and potential solutions to improve student and roadway safety.
A former airline pilot has stepped into a new role at the independent federal agency, but where does he stand on issues like seat belts on school buses? Here’s what he’s said.
