There is still no competition for the traditional yellow school bus when it comes to getting students to and from school safely, affordably, and efficiently. Other options, such as public transportation, carpooling, walking, or cycling, also exist. Yet, a majority of students and their parents rely on school buses for student transportation.
Here are some reasons why school buses remain the champions of student transportation today.
1. Safety Above All
The top priority of parents is their child’s safety. The yellow bus remains the safest form of transportation for school-aged children. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), less than 1% of all traffic fatalities involve children on school vehicles.
Yellow buses are designed with strict safety standards in mind, ensuring peace of mind for parents. The district department dedicated to student safety operates around the clock, enhancing these measures. Equipped with flashing lights, stop arms, and trained drivers, these buses provide an added layer of protection for children during boarding and drop-offs.
2. Cost-Effectiveness With Dedicated Tools
School buses give parents peace of mind by ensuring safe and punctual transportation, but the real savings come from the tools that optimize their use. Modern school bus routing software streamlines routes, reduces fuel consumption, and cuts operational costs.
Districts benefit from economies of scale as more students ride the bus, while families save on the expenses of individual commutes. The yellow bus service makes transportation more affordable and efficient for both parents and school districts.
3. Benefits the Environment
While diesel-fueled buses may not sound eco-friendly at first, their collective impact is significant. A single school bus typically replaces about 36 family vehicles, transporting an average of 54 students per trip, which helps reduce traffic, fuel use, and emissions.
Districts are also transitioning to hybrid and electric vehicles to mitigate environmental pressure and promote sustainability.
A routing software and school bus fleet management software amplify these gains by reducing unnecessary mileage and ensuring buses operate at peak efficiency, helping schools enhance sustainability while serving their communities.
4. Accessibility and Reliability
Families can often find it difficult to juggle work, errands, and school schedules. School buses can take off one of the most important tasks of the day from their plate and do it responsibly. A redistricting module for school buses can expand the boundaries where feasible to make student transportation more accessible.
Parents can also track real-time bus locations, receive alerts, and confirm stop details through the Chipmunk App. The added transparency provides parents with peace of mind and enhances the reliability of the system, while also reducing the number of phone calls.
5. Improves Student Participation
Accessibility and reliability have two significant benefits to the school system. It can improve student attendance and punctuality, giving rise to overall student participation. Access to reliable transportation directly improves school attendance, as students and parents are no longer concerned about transportation. A study revealed that students who take the yellow bus are less likely to be absent.
A student transportation platform can improve student attendance by identifying those who lack access to transportation and finding ways to include them in the system.
School Buses Remain At The Top Of The Charts
When you think of school buses, which benefit stands out most to you?
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School buses have proven to be safer, efficient, and more sustainable over the years. Paired with modern technology, such as BusPlanner’s suite of planning, tracking, and communication features, student transportation can become the most well-orchestrated department during the school year.
Parents, students, and teachers can all rely on the yellow bus system to fill classrooms every day. Meanwhile, the right technology is helping districts shape the future of student transportation.
Contact us now to explore why districts across North America trust BusPlanner to make school buses the safest, smartest, and most cost-effective choice for student transportation.
