The American School Bus Council received confirmation this afternoon that new NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind will keynote the Love the Bus Main Event on Tuesday at an elementary school in Arlington, Virginia.
The annual event timed with Valentine’s Day recognizes the work and “irreplaceable role” of school bus drivers nationwide. ASBC said Rosekind will discuss the safety benefits of the school bus. Just last week, ABC’s Good Morning America interviewed Rosekind about seat belts, and he said NHTSA would take a closer look at the issue.
Meanwhile, the U.S. EPA will also be represented at Love the Bus. Christopher Grundler, director of the Office of Transportation and Air Quality, will discuss the environmental benefits school buses have by reducing traffic congestion near schools.
Also speaking will be Dr. Patrick Murphy, superintendent of Arlington Public Schools. He is scheduled to address the important work performed each day by school drivers, specifically two local school district bus drivers for their dedication and safety records. A preschool choir will also sing school-bus themed songs.
Approximately 200 elementary school students wearing school bus yellow shirts will also be in attendance.
The event is scheduled to begin at 9:15 a.m. local time.
Love the Bus originated in 2007 and is celebrated by states and local school districts across the country. U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx was the keynote at last year’s event, and his predecessor Ray LaHood was the featured speaker the year prior.
ASBC is a coalition the National Association for Pupil Transportation, the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services and the National School Transportation Association along with school bus manufacturers Blue Bird Corporation, IC Corporation and Thomas Built Buses.
