I


t’s a no-brainer that a focus on safety stands is a top priority for any student transporta- tion leader. But that doesn’t make meeting this obligation any easier. “Balancing time, budget and personnel


to support training and safety initiatives while keeping daily operations running smoothly remains a constant challenge in sustaining a strong safety culture,” said


Jon Kollman, director of transportation for Lake Washington School District in Redmond, Washing- ton. “Frequent changes in safety regulations and best practices demand continuous education and adaptation.” At the same time, ensuring drivers and staff


consistently follow protocols can be difficult, par- ticularly given their varying experience levels and attitudes toward safety. Despite the best efforts of all concerned, the un-


avoidable truth is bad things happen. Data published in June by the National Highway


Safety Administration showed 971 school- transportation related fatal traffic collisions occurred from 2014 to 2023. A total of 1,079 people died, including 209 school-aged children (38 were riding in school transportation vehicles, 79 were pedestrians, six were pedacyclists, and three were “other” nonoccupants.) Occupants of other vehicles accounted for the lion’s share of fatalities at 755.


Experience shows that safety concerns are not


limited to students or on-the-road situations. Last January, a New Jersey bus driver died when struck by a school bus at the district’s depot. Later in the year, a collision in a Delaware school’s drop-off lane killed a driver, who was preparing to conduct an emergency exit drill behind the bus. Such serious incidents come with all kinds of


ramifications. Beyond the tragic impact on the individuals and families concerned, they can also lead to problems ranging from negative publicity to lawsuits. Even relatively minor incidents with no injuries


not only garner the attention of alarmists but bring their own set of challenges, from repair costs to inconvenient vehicle downtimes.


Preventive Practices There is no shortage of federal or state regula-


tions, laws or school district policies providing a foundation for safe operations. But carefully devel- oped local practices, both formal and informal, can help keep students and staff stay safe. At Wa-Nee Community Schools in Nappanee,


Indiana, leadership for transportation and safety is combined into a single position. The district won Transfinder’s Top Transportation Teams awards in 2024 and 2025. “These two roles coincide well as each revolves


heavily around safety,” said Amy Rosa, director of school safety and transportation. “We have a core group of bus driver representatives and an open- door policy for all drivers to point out all safety related concerns to each other, the committee and to the administration.” Along with a focus on safety in staff training,


students also receive guidance on safe behaviors. “We have no assumption that any motorist will stop for the school bus,” Rosa noted. “We hope they will, we work diligently to educate the public, but we never assume they will stop.” With that in mind, students are trained to be re-


sponsible for their own safety and to follow safety protocols at every bus stop. Of particular benefit to drivers and other staff,


a recently constructed transportation facility has increased overall safety for those using it as well as the parking lot. “This has allowed for better traffic flow, safer


fueling procedures and better pedestrian/vehicle separation,” Rosa said. It has also supported better response times,


which plays a part in route safety, she added. Additionally, district transportation leaders often


revisit basic school bus safety protocols for drivers to avoid falling into the trap of redundancy. “Repetition can lead to bad habits,” Rosa noted.


“Review of standard safety protocols resets the safety mindset and refreshes veteran drivers.” Safety is a major emphasis in driver training at


Lake Stevens School District in Washington. Nancy Koski, the district’s driver trainer safety supervi- sor, noted drivers participate in periodic training


Read NHTSA’s 2014-2023 Traffic Safety Facts for School-Transportation-Related Traffic Crashes at stnonline.com/go/og.


www.stnonline.com 41


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