Each day, the dedicated operators of Student Transportation of America help safely transport more than 1.25 million students to and from schools across North America. It’s a great responsibility and one that we take seriously, embedding safety into every decision we make – from our recruiting and hiring practices, to our driver training, ridership programs, and vehicle maintenance procedures.   

“I can honestly say that STA’s first priority is safely delivering our students to and from school every day. They have done this while increasing our on-time percentage by over 20% last year.” 

(Santa Rosa County District Schools)

For us, safety is a year-round commitment, but National School Bus Safety Week is a special opportunity to highlight some of the measures that STA takes as an organization – and that the school transportation industry is implementing as a whole – to keep passenger safety at the forefront.  

A HISTORY OF SCHOOL BUS SAFETY  

• Some of the earliest modes of school transportation date back to the 1880s with horse-drawn wagons, sometimes called “kid hacks”.
• By 1914, Indiana-based automotive company Wayne Works began producing a motorized school transportation vehicle similar to a wooden trolley car.  
• The first conference to standardize safety measures and other federal regulations for school transportation took place in 1939. Arranged by Frank W. Cyr, a Professor of Education, the conference established the now-familiar “school bus yellow” along with 44 additional safety standards.
• The NHTSA established the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, and in 1974 the School Bus Safety Amendments stated that school transportation must be held to the highest levels of safety, requiring school buses to meet higher standards than other modes of transport.
• School buses began featuring compartmentalized seats, specially designed to protect passengers in the event of an impact; amber and red flashing lights to communicate with other vehicles on the road; and stop arms and front crossing gates to help students cross in front of their school bus at a safe distance. 
• Throughout the 2000s, the industry has seen swift advancements in digital onboard safety technology including camera and audio security systems, real-time GPS monitoring, fleet maintenance and predictive repair software, Wi-Fi, ridership tracking software, and more.    

HOW STA SUPPORTS SAFETY ON OUR VEHICLES  

The impact of technology is far reaching and reverberates across all aspects of our business to enhance communication and services, improve operations, and lower costs. From best-in-class safety and communications equipment on our vehicles to sophisticated routing systems and secure Cloud-based data services, STA remains ahead of the curve in industry technology and fleet innovation.  

• Real-time GPS on board every company vehicle  

• State-of-the-art safety and communications equipment, including handheld tablets 

• Secure bus tracking app with customizable “alert zones” and parent communication features  

• Computerized fleet maintenance software that ensures federal safety compliance, and tracks preventive inspection scheduling  

• Child Check-Mate Systems® with customizable programs to meet state and local safety regulations 

• Reportable driver compliance and credentialing systems with alert features to stay ahead of DOT credentials and licensing renewals 

• Data-driven culture supported by integrated business intelligence and 360⁰ operational reporting  

“We all know that school district transportation is not easy to implement in an efficient and effective manner.  Our working relationship with STA allows us to maximize the efficiencies on a daily basis.” 

(Williamsville Central School District)

With a strong commitment to excellence and safety, Student Transportation of America offers unparalleled service that meets the highest standards in school transportation. Where others may see only numbers or routing schedules, we see the families we connect to their school communities and the lives we touch daily. Click here to learn more about how STA keeps students safe on the ride to and from school.  

If you’d like to understand how STA may be able to support your own school district’s needs and goals, talk to one of our experienced team members today.