Picking and dropping students off at home, going back to school, sounds like a simple task, but the reality is very different. The student transportation department faces multiple challenges every day when it comes to completing the job successfully.
Students’ safety remains the primary concern for student transportation departments. It is a matter that can make or break the entire department, and even the slightest mistake can cause multiple problems.
Here are 7 ways to keep drivers and buses on track to ensure students’ safety in transit.
Bus and Student Tracking
GPS trackers have made life easier as one of the biggest innovations in transportation technology. The education sector has benefited from trackers, and their effective use can be a game changer in student safety.
School bus GPS software has many features that can ensure student safety.
- Live GPS Data: Buses can be tracked in real-time, and their routes are reported to ensure that they are on the right path. Any changes in the prescribed route can be dealt with effectively.
- Drop-off Locations: A student transportation app for parents can help note when and where the child has been boarded or disembarked from the bus.
Enhanced Driver Training and Monitoring
Driver training goes a long way as far as safety is concerned. Followed by training, active monitoring of drivers is essential to ensure that they are doing everything right to keep students safe.
- Training Drivers: A well-trained driver will follow traffic rules properly and will be adequately equipped to handle unforeseen circumstances. Training parameters can be set by the districts to ensure that drivers only take the yellow bus steering wheel after they’ve completed the necessary training.
- Active Monitoring: Student transportation platforms provide effective tools to constantly monitor and track driving patterns, including speeding, braking, and adherence to traffic rules. This data can help identify which drivers require additional training and which ones may be dangerous behind the wheel.
Monitoring Traffic Conditions
School transportation departments should regularly monitor traffic conditions to reduce the risk of any delays, risks, and hazards on the route. A school bus routing software can make the process quicker and easier.
- Manage Unforeseen Circumstances: Weather changes and sudden road closures can cause a lot of stress for students and their parents. An efficient student transportation platform can quickly create and communicate alternate routes to the drivers, making sure students reach their destination safely and timely.
- Utilize AI-powered Tools: The software’s dedicated AI-powered tools support operational improvements. Employing the latest technology helps ensure students' safety on the road.
Address Emergencies Efficiently
In the event of an emergency, timely information is critical. School bus GPS tracking can make tracking and communication between school bus drivers, school administrators, and emergency responders quicker and more effective.
Emergency incidents can be managed more effectively with the clear information provided through the relevant tools. It can help minimize potential harm to students and keep all the relevant parties updated.
Geofencing
One of the biggest benefits of using a student transportation platform is the availability of geofencing and instant route alerts.
- Geofencing Technology: School administrators and districts can set virtual boundaries for bus routes. This can ensure that the drivers do not go off their designated paths and can increase efficiency and safety.
- Danger Zones: With direct access to the Sheriff’s office, school districts can mark danger zones where sex offenders and criminals are present to ensure that bus drivers do not drive children through dangerous areas unnecessarily.
Maintenance Checks
Breakdowns on the road can cause one of the biggest safety concerns in student transportation departments. Ensuring that the school bus fleet is fit and running smoothly is important, as each bus is responsible for getting several students to their destination safely.
- An Eye On The Fleet: An unfit fleet can cause regular headaches for all stakeholders. Tracking each bus’ on-road time, age, and miles before each maintenance is easier with a student transportation platform.
- Preventative Maintenance: The costs of staying on the backfoot are high and can cause many problems with students' safety. Instead of waiting for things to go wrong, the right software can allow the transportation department to take preventative measures with qualitative and quantitative data collected regarding each bus.
A school bus fleet management software can make the task simpler and easier while giving the school transportation department peace of mind. A healthy fleet leads to more security for students.
Field Trip Planning
Field trips are an integral part of the learning experience in schools. School administrators can use effective field trip software for school buses for better and safer planning.
- Better Organization: Gone are the days when field trips had to be planned on paper. A student transportation platform can better organize a field trip by taking into account all the variables. It can cut costs and increase safety.
- Alternative Plans: An alternative is always something that comes in handy when something goes wrong. School administrators can use the versatile tools of a field trip software for school buses to always have another plan in store in case anything goes wrong.
Conclusion
Keeping students safe in transit is at the heart of the school transportation department. Taking effective measures and using the right student transportation platform can make the task easier. A student transportation platform like BusPlanner can provide all the useful tools needed to ensure student safety and parent satisfaction. Contact us today to learn more!
