School Bus Industry Steps Up Security, Safety Preparedness

AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- As the nation's pupil transportation industry prepares for it's national conference beginning this weekend in Austin, Texas, a top national school bus official said, "safety, emergency preparedness and optimum efficiency to save taxpayer costs are not just on the front burner, they are on all the burners."

Mike Martin, Executive Director of the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) said, "The big yellow school bus is a mainstay American institution, but performance expectations have never been higher. "Our safety and performance record is second to none thanks to conscientious, safety minded school bus operators and drivers, and we intend to keep it that way. We also are concentrating on enhancing school bus security against potential terrorism, the role of school buses as first responders in emergencies, and continuing convenient service at a time of highest-ever fuel prices."

"But when the going gets rough, this is an industry that rolls up its sleeves and gets going," Martin said. NAPT is hosting the industry's annual conference and trade show at the Austin Convention Center, Oct. 29-Nov. 3.

"A strong safety, security and efficiency record doesn't just happen," Martin said. "Before families across the country wake up every morning, much is going on behind-the-scenes to ensure the safe passage of their children riding in yellow school buses. It may appear very routine, but it's not."

"School bus operators across the country are making sure we are vigilant and taking advantage of the latest safety, security and readiness recommendations. We even hired a security expert to help us develop a comprehensive risk assessment and training program, and are holding regional training seminars," he added.

Don Carnahan, former NAPT national president who now markets security and safety equipment, said many of the nation's school buses are now equipped with electronic inspection technology to help guard against possible terrorist actions, improve safety, and ensure local school bus fleets are run as efficiently as possible for taxpayers.

"School buses are always checked before and after every trip. But available electronic technology with radio and satellite links now makes the process easier for drivers, is more thorough, and creates a verifiable record. Because the electronic system is faster and more accurate than manual reports that have to be read and can be error-prone, electronic inspections provide better security and safety assurance, and highlight deficiencies earlier. It also helps us promote routing and other operational efficiencies," Carnahan explained.

"If there's a problem, say a damaged tire, or a suspicious package found under a seat, drivers can now communicate the issue electronically to maintenance and dispatch personnel for immediate attention," he added.

Alexandra Robinson, Transportation Services Department director for San Diego Unified School District and President of the California Association of School Transportation Officials (CASTO) said, "We are rapidly phasing in electronic vehicle inspection because we view it as the best way to ensure that no bus rolls until it is checked thoroughly from front to back. As the mother of a school-age child myself, in the post 9/11 world, it's all about the accountability that parents expect."

Donald Tudor, State Director of School Transportation in South Carolina, said, "As the manager of a fleet of over 5,700 school buses, the State recognizes the value of electronic vehicle inspections to help make student transportation even safer. As fleets age, the efficient and effective reporting of pre-trip and post-trip inspections becomes even more important. Electronic systems help to remind our drivers of the everyday safety checklist items that are so important."

The electronic safety and security system used on school buses around the country is designed and supplied by Seattle-based Zonar(R) Systems. It uses electronic sensors mounted at key locations on each bus. The bus driver uses a hand-held electronic monitor to "check in" and inspect each sensor zone, entering into the system anything suspicious or safety/maintenance problems. Information then is electronically transferred to a central database to provide the school district with immediate problem alerts and a permanent record. A newer, wireless radio/cell version is now available to provide school bus fleets with even faster information.

"The electronic system provides better and more complete information. With paper-based systems, deciphering hand-written driver notes is labor- intensive and error-prone. Zonar gives drivers and operators a documented record," Carnahan said.

NAPT security and safety training includes the recommendation that school buses be inspected thoroughly before and after every trip. The association also has a 10-minute video, Morning in America, that traces an average day in pupil transportation, highlighting the many behind-the-scenes activities involved in putting 450,000 school buses on the road and transporting tens of millions of children safely. It is dedicated to a Tennessee school bus driver who was shot and killed last March by a student on her bus. It can be downloaded at http://www.napt.org .