Thomas Built Buses is hosting the 46th Annual School Bus Driver International Safety Competition presented by the National School Transportation Association at the school bus manufacturer’s High Point, North Carolina, plant this month.
School bus drivers from across the U.S. and Canada start the competition on July 16 with a written exam that tests knowledge of school bus regulations and the rules of the road. The following day, the contestants hit the driving course for the skills portion in the conventional, small bus and transit categories. Drivers will navigate 11 obstacle courses that mimick real-life, on-road situations when transporting students.
“We are proud to host this year’s School Bus Driver International Safety Competition,” said Caley Edgerly, president and CEO of Thomas Built Buses. “We pride ourselves in safety and innovation, as we have for the past 100 years. Hosting this event aligns perfectly with our 100th anniversary and the values and skills that we instill in our own employees and dealers across the nation.”
Kanawha County Schools in West Virginia was the big winner in last year’s competition, as drivers Mary Slate and Billy Wiseman won the small bus and conventional bus divisions. Victor Garza of Newport-Mesa Unified School District in Southern California won the transit division. This year’s winners will be recognized during the July 17 NSTA dinner and awards ceremony sponsored by IC Bus.
“School buses are the safest form of transportation available because of the high priority the industry places on training and attention to safety, as well as the design of the school bus. These competitors are at the top of their field, and we are honored to host this event,” said Todd Monteferrario, president of NSTA.
The competition is held in conjunction with NSTA’s Annual Meeting and Convention in nearby Greensboro.
