LOS ANGELES — HopSkipDrive is obsessed with safety. In fact, it’s our company’s number one value. We don’t do anything without asking ourselves, “Would we put our own child, niece, nephew, or a child we love in that car?”
Our safety obsession is why we were the first in our industry to implement a 15-point certification process, including driver qualification requirements like a fingerprint-based check of criminal databases and five years of childcare experience. It’s why we use a multi-factor authentication system for pick-ups.
It’s also why every single HopSkipDrive ride is monitored in real-time by Safe Ride Support, our ground traffic control team and the human safety experts who amplify our technology.
We continue to research, innovate, and implement new ways to ensure optimal safety through technology.
Now, we’re excited to announce another industry first: the formation of the HopSkipDrive Safety Advisory Board.
Our Safety Advisory Board includes a hand-picked group of industry leaders at the very top of their respective fields—from the Founder and former CEO of one of the largest school bus companies in the U.S. to leaders of some of the most well-respected organizations on youth transportation safety.
This committee will work with HopSkipDrive to further advance our safety leadership and guide initiatives for 2020 and beyond.
We welcome the following Safety Advisory Board members:
Denis Gallager
Former Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Student Transportation of America
Denis Gallagher has over 43 years of experience as a respected entrepreneur and leader in the passenger transportation industry. He established Student Transportation of America in 1997, making his the third generation in his family to found and lead a transportation company. Under his enduring leadership, STA grew into the third-largest U.S.-based school bus company with more than 16,000 vehicles in its fleet. Denis Gallagher also serves on the Board of Directors of HopSkipDrive.
Steve A. Simmons III
President-Elect, National Association of Pupil Transportation
Before joining the National Association of Pupil Transportation, Steve Simmons served as Director of Transportation for Columbus City Schools, where he cultivated a reputation among his peers as a safety-focused leader. During his 11-year tenure as Director, he repeatedly implemented new technology to make buses safer, such as installing GPS hardware and cameras on every bus in his fleet.
Lisa Robinson
Senior Program Manager, National Safety Council
In her role with the National Safety Council, Lisa Robinson is the subject matter expert in the area of Safety on the Road, working with public and private organizations to address preventable motor vehicle crashes. She is also an experienced public speaker with more than 20 years of expertise in successfully addressing behavior change.
Torine Creppy
President, Safe Kids Worldwide
Torine Creppy is the president of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global nonprofit dedicated to protecting kids from preventable injuries. For more than 20 years, Ms. Creppy has worked with funders, legislators and community leaders around the world to develop and implement strategic initiatives, create meaningful partnerships and change behavior. Under her leadership, the Safe Kids Buckle Up program has evolved into the most comprehensive child passenger safety program in the world and the Safe Kids Walk This Way pedestrian safety program has reached more than 17 million children in 10 countries. She led a blue-ribbon panel and convened a consortium to ensure children are considered as autonomous vehicles are being developed. She is a passionate advocate on the Hill and in the media on vehicular heatstroke prevention. Ms. Creppy is a member of the American Public Health Association, the National Urban League, NAACP, the National Head Start Association and Leadership Greater Washington.
Diana Hollander
Retiring Director of Transportation, Nevada Department of Education
In her role at the Nevada Department of Education, Diana Hollander has supported school districts for 24 years, helping transportation teams navigate complex federal, state, and local regulations to get students to school safely and on time. She served on the Nevada Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board and the Nevada Executive Committee on Traffic Safety, where she promoted student safety in all modes of transportation. She won the Peter J. Grandolfo Award in Excellence in 2019. A fierce champion for women in student transportation leadership roles, she is also a past president of the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services.
We look forward to sharing more with you about the Board’s charter and its work in the months ahead. Please visit our Safety page for more information about HopSkipDrive’s innovative, human, and data-driven approach to safety.
