This week, Pennsylvania joins the nation in celebration of National School Bus Safety Week.
The school bus transportation community is proud of the safety record and reputation that shows school buses are indeed the safest way to get children to and from school every day.
Many factors go into making school buses the safest form of transportation. Today’s buses are equipped with flashing red lights, cross-view mirrors, stop-sign arms, protective seating, high crush standards and rollover protection features. They are designed to be highly visible. Today’s school buses are tougher, cleaner, safer and more diligently maintained than ever before.
In addition, these buses are staffed by a dedicated workforce of experienced drivers well trained in safety procedures. The Pennsylvania School Bus Association (PSBA) would like to shine a light on these “safety heroes.” Each day, they transport approximately 1.5 million students traveling over 400 million miles a year. Already on the job at the crack of dawn to conduct their pre-trip inspections, your child’s school bus driver has been well schooled both in the classroom and behind the wheel.
During this School Bus Safety Week, on behalf of the PSBA membership, we say “thank you” to school bus drivers across our state for your commitment to our children and laser focus on safety.
Michael Berk
Lansdale
The writer is executive director of the Pennsylvania School Bus Association.