School Bus Fleet, July 2017

50 SCHOOL BUS FLEET JULY 2017 WWW SCHOOLBUSFLEET COMized stop quick action can be taken and drivers can be held accountable GPS systems have made an enormous impact on the school transportation world This technology provides numerous key benefits including Accidents and inconsistent driving can be followed up on immediately Payroll overages can be prevented when school bus drivers dont follow their assigned route or timeline Alarms can be set that alert supervisors of speeding or a bus that ends up at an unauthorized location Detailed activity logs allow administrators to manage driver accountability and their compliance with district policies and guidelines This level of accountability for drivers helps to keep students safe and it can also save school districts money in multiple ways including their insurance premiums School buses across the country are now equipped with sophisticated cameras that record audio and video data When an incident occurs this provides an easy way to review driver involvement Along with easing the minds of parents and school district officials cameras can protect students from incidents of bullying and violence They can also protect drivers from false claims To learn more about technology that can help your school district ensure driver accountability look for vendors that offer a full range of transportation software options that are specifically designed to help school bus transportation professionals manage their fleet and keep student riders safe From route planning to student tracking you need a full selection of transportation software to meet the specific needs and budget of your district GPS systems can usually be easily integrated with other software High profile school bus tragedies such as the crash that took the lives of six students in Chattanooga Tennessee last year have parents concerned across the country With an uptick in bullying and violence in schools there is also valid worry about these incidents carrying over to the ride to and from the classroom Many parents also have apprehension that their child might get on the wrong bus or be forced to wait at a stop that just isnt safe Both parents and school officials agree that rider safety relies on school bus driver accountability Major school bus accidents are relatively rare In fact from 2005 to 2014 school transportation related crashes accounted for 036 of fatal crashes in the U S according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Incidents between students are more common Thorough planning by transportation departments can help ensure that students wait at safe stops and get on the correct buses but to be assured that everyone has a completely safe ride school bus drivers must be accountable Keeping drivers accountable There are many systems and practices that can help transportation departments keep school bus drivers accountable One way to increase accountability is through driver training By providing education that teaches school bus drivers how to spot the warning signs of bullying avoid traffic dangers and respond to emergencies they are given the tools needed to take accountability Encouraging communication between drivers and supervisors can also keep students safe and increase driver accountability Drivers should be given plenty of opportunities to get vital information to those who can help them to respond The role of technology Technology is also playing a role in school bus driver accountability GPS systems let transportation departments keep tabs on drivers and where buses are in real time If there is a deviation from a route or an unauthorHow to Support Driver Accountability Technology is also playing a role in school bus driver accountability GPS systems let transportation departments keep tabs on drivers and where buses are in real time By Sonia Mastros INDUSTRY FORUM Sonia Mastros is president of Orbit Software Inc supplier of the BusBoss routing and scheduling program The company also offers web based field trip management services and integrated GPS student and vehicle monitoring For more information go to www busboss com