Child safety around school buses

There’s a certain comfort for a parent who knows that his or her child is in safe hands when riding a school bus – but to have that sense of security, there are rules to be followed to promote child safety around school buses.

That’s why the Lester B. Pearson School Board believes that the province’s annual School Bus Transportation Safety Campaign is so vital to the safety of students.

“Promoting child safety around school buses is one of the most important activities at the board,” said Diane Pellerin, Superintendent of Transportation Services at the school board.

This year’s campaign, called Do You See Me? takes place from Feb. 4 to the 15.

She said the campaign is geared to school bus drivers and their young passengers as well as to motorists – many of whom are parents – who are reminded to be careful around school buses and in school zones.

Mario Barrette, the board’s director of community services responsible for student transportation, said the latest innovative safety measure by the board has been the installation of a GPS tracking system on buses, minibuses and vans.

“This system … allows us to keep track of where our buses are at any given time,” said Barrette adding that the GPS system can also track whether bus stops are being respected and confirm the speed of a vehicle.

“This technology can also serve as a building block for future updates,” he said adding that some possibilities include student-tracking with a swipe card or chip and providing parents with the ability to know at what time the bus will arrive at a particular stop.

During this year’s bus safety campaign, the Association du Transport du Québec (A.T.E.Q), Québec’s largest carriers’ association, in cooperation with the Quebec Automobile Insurance Board (SAAQ), has sent each kindergarten and elementary class a poster about safety guidelines. Each class will also receive a bus safety storybook and activity booklets.

One of the events during the bus safety campaign is Bus Drivers’ Appreciation Day, an event unique to the LBPSB, which takes place on Feb. 4. “This day is designed to increase public recognition of the important function school bus drivers serve in safely transporting children to and from school,” said Barrette.

Barrette also noted that since the beginning of the school year, local carrier Transco, in cooperation with the school board, has shown an animated bus safety video, followed by a question and answer session by a trained Transco driver – to all kindergarten students.

In all, nearly 2,000 students viewed the safety video.

Other year-round safety programs include:

* The Big Wheels Program, a combination of conflict resolution and peer mediation, which allows grades 5 and 6 students to take ownership and leadership in creating a peaceful environment on school buses.

*The Purple Parent Program which helps drivers quickly and clearly identify which students are to be met by a parent or designate at their afternoon bus stop.

Barette proudly noted that the LBPSB has a tradition of being an innovator regarding safety features on school buses, even though they are not required by law.

Some of those innovations include:

*The Silent Witness, an interior camera surveillance system.

*Sentinelle magnetic signs indicating that the last passenger is out.

* The MSC Specialty Swing Arm installed on the front bumper of buses so that passengers are always in the driver’s view after getting off a school bus.

*Two-Way radios to allow bus drivers to always be in touch with their dispatchers.

* Many new buses are also equipped with the Check Child Mate system, said Barrette, explaining that the moment the bus engine is turned off and the key is removed from the ignition, an alarm sounds, reminding the driver to check all seats to ensure no one has been left behind.

“Our school board is constantly involved in efforts and procedures aimed at safety,” said Barrette.

The Québec School Transportation Association (A.T.E.Q.), in close cooperation with Transport Quebec school boards, and other partners, are always seeking new ways to ensure the safest possible school transportation system, added Pellerin.

Tools and videotapes with complementary activities are available for teachers and groups alike throughout the year. For information, go to www.ateq.qc.ca