The Pennsylvania School Bus Association said members of the state’s school transportation community gathered at a reception hosted by Gov. Tom Wolfe to commemorate National School Bus Safety Week. It included recognition for the Pennsylvania School Bus Driver Safety Competition and student winners of the annual School Bus Safety Poster Contest.
The reception Wednesday evening at the governor’s residence had representatives from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the Pennsylvania State Police, PSBA and other school transportation organizations gather together to address the importance of continuously promoting school bus safety to students, parents and the general public beyond just National School Bus Safety Week.
This year’s theme for National School Bus Safety week, which is annually held the third week of October, was #STOP ON RED. PSBA said this message is especially timely given the concern with vehicles illegally passing school buses and recent campaigns to bring attention to distracted driving.
The top three student winners in the four divisions of the School Bus Safety Poster Contest were also recognized at the reception. The first-place entries in each division now move on to the national competition that is sponsored by the National Association for Pupil Transportation.
In addition, the winners of the Pennsylvania School Bus Driver Safety Competition were honored at the event, with PSBA President Fred Bennett introducing the top three contestants for the conventional and transit divisions. PennDOT presented each of the drivers with a special certificate. The top winner in each division was awarded with a special traveling trophy from PSBA.
“The prestige of this executive residence spotlights the important contribution of Pennsylvania school bus drivers to our Commonwealth,” Bennett said.
The Pennsylvania School Bus Association was founded in 1980, consisting of over 350 school bus contractors and industry partners, who together act as one strong voice for school bus safety and the school bus contracting industry.
