As National School Bus Safety Week approaches, the New York Association for Pupil Transportation (NYAPT) is advancing a multi-part effort to call attention to school transportation and school bus safety.
NYAPT has begun to issue a series of seven press releases that call attention to different aspects of school bus safety. The series begins with an October 14th press release that explains the overall safety factor of school buses, using data generated in 2002 by the National Academy of Sciences and other information. The series continues with releases on Sunday through Friday dealing with (1) the construction of the school bus, (2) preparation of school bus drivers, (3) clean air efforts in the school bus industry, (4) bullying on school buses,(5) illegal passing of stopped school buses, and (6) the value of investing in school bus safety.
Members of NYAPT are also being urged to send letters to the editors of local newspapers on one of two topics: School Bus Safety or Illegal Passing of School Buses. Sample letters have been developed to assist members in sharing specific points with the news media and can be found in the RESOURCES & LINKS page of the NYAPT website at www.nyapt.org.
NYAPT has also issued letters to members of the New York State Legislature and the NYS Board of Regents extolling the benefits of school transportation and the need for the state’s policy makers to ensure that school transportation continues its long-standing safety record for student riders.
All materials are being posted to the NYAPT website and are available for members to share and utilize in discussing school bus safety issues with community leaders and legislators.
Have a great School Bus Safety Week 2011!
