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When Seconds Save Lives: Active Threat Response & The School Bus [Video]

Bus drivers need to be first responders on wheels. Find out how active threat training equips them to protect students when it matters most. On this episode of The Route, we talk to S.T.A.R.T. CEO Jim Levine about emergency preparedness and response. The Route is sponsored by IC Bus — proudly manufacturing the Next Generation CE Series.

Amanda Huggett
Amanda HuggettExecutive Editor
Read Amanda's Posts
October 15, 2025
Sponsored by

School bus drivers aren’t just behind the wheel — they’re often the first line of defense when it comes to keeping students safe. In this episode of The Route, we talk with Jim Levine, CEO of S.T.A.R.T., about how training and preparedness can make all the difference in an active threat or emergency situation.


From scenario-based training to new safety standards, you’ll learn how districts can support drivers with the tools, confidence, and awareness they need to protect the most vulnerable passengers: our kids.


S.T.A.R.T. (School Transportation Active-Threat Response Training) has a national effort to equip drivers and transportation teams with the training they need to recognize, prevent, and respond to active threats before police arrive. For more information, visit www.schoolbusstart.com.

Key topics discussed:

  • What and what is S.T.A.R.T. 

  • How to spot red flags and warning signs of violence before it starts

  • The critical role school bus drivers have in ensuring student safety

  • Inside the S.T.A.R.T. curriculum

  • Who else benefits from threat response training

  • The emotional impact school bus drivers feel

  • Key steps in threat preparedness 

  • How to advocate for active threat training

  • Reminders for bus safety on field trips

  • Domestic abduction and safety trends that law enforcement monitors

  • Rural vs. urban considerations

  • How to get started with active threat training

  • Grants available for school bus driver training

This episode is sponsored by IC Bus.


Links to reference:

👉 S.T.A.R.T. Launches Back-to-School Active Threat Training

👉  Grant opportunity


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