PUBLISHER'S CORNER
RISK AND SECURITY TONY CORPIN, PUBLISHER
As I start writing most of my columns I like to search Google first for insightful research and information. After I typed the words school bus security, I discovered an array of links such as to a Homeland Security school bus flyer, school bus driver training security training programs, crisis planning, video security equipment, school transportation security awareness and images that depict security or kids on buses. One article result about a recent school bus hijacking in Jacksonville, Fla., stood out to me. Te local news station in the area talked about how a security camera system on the school bus helped police piece together what happened during the incident. “Te technology that’s available now for school buses is fantastic. We have cameras showing what’s
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going on… on the exterior of the bus, what’s going on from the front to the back,” said a school district spokeswoman. Do you have video security cameras on your buses? Have they helped you and local authorities?
Other top links pointed me towards training or crisis planning, which make a huge difference in planning for and responding to difficult situations. A comment made about the Jacksonville bus driv- er was good to hear: “From early indications, she did everything according to her training, kept calm, kept a distance from the individual and kept the kids safe which is most important,” the spokeswom- an added. Do you provide security or crisis training for your school bus drivers?
School bus security training is imperative these days. As the driver in Jacksonville proved, being
prepared allowed things to end peacefully. Do you have a regular driver training program in place? School bus drivers are constantly at risk of collisions with other vehicles, incidents with kids
onboard, drivers, parents and passing vehicles. One industry expert I spoke with said that accident re-creation using video security technology has exonerated bus drivers and school districts time and time again by removing fault or blame. For example, a school bus that was stopped was suddenly rear-ended, but the other motorist
claimed the school bus driver was actually the one at fault. But the video footage clearly showed that it was the car striking the school bus, and not the other way around. Tis type of technology gives a clear picture of the truth. It removes personal reflection, emotion or selective memory. Tis industry expert added that many school districts are now taking a proactive approach in
spot-checking video instead of reacting to incidents after they happen and finding themselves on the defensive. Te process can become automated with certain video security technology providers so that it takes the work out of monitoring troubled school buses and gives accountability to all parties. All these measures aim to reduce risk, risk transfer and risk avoidance. Te result can be a lot saved
in terms of lives and money. Be sure you have the right technology and training to stay protected. You’ll be happy you did.
s an industry we are constantly facing the issue of risk as kids are transported on school buses. And for many school districts security is surely top of mind when trying to de- crease liability, especially with all the recent incidents that have occurred on and off the bus over the last year.
58 School Transportation News January 2014
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