A resolution that dedicates one month to school bus safety and supports the mission of the Child Safety Network passed the U.S. Senate by unanimous consent and awaits the President’s signature.
Co-sponsors Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Ranking Member John Thune (R-SD) (pictured above, from left) embraced the resolution and generated support, according to CSN.
CSN Safe Bus provides free safety technology and training for the nation’s largest public transportation fleet: the 480,000 yellow buses that transport more than 26 million U.S. schoolchildren approximately 5.6 billion miles each year.
The Safe Bus technology enables GPS tracking of school buses, which saves schools money, reduces carbon emissions, maintains oversight of driver performance and alerts parents when their students’ buses will arrive. The Bus Alert System, GPS and training is free to schools, taxpayers, parents and students because of corporate sponsors.
“The training provided by CSN Safe Bus includes advanced driver safety curriculum, how to transport children with special needs and an all-important series on anti-bullying for students and drivers,” said Ward Leber, founder of CSN.
Three incidents of bullying aboard the school bus this week highlight the seriousness of this epidemic. In West Palm Beach, Fla., a 16-year-old girl was attacked by six other girls, and the beating was caught on tape. Also caught on tape was an assault with a bookbag that left a young boy unconscious and bleeding in Bellbrook, Ohio. And in Kennedale, Texas, a 10-year-old boy had a bloody nose after a classmate repeatedly punched him in the face for taking too long to board the bus.
A 2010 NEA survey showed that more than 40 percent of school bus drivers nationwide said they have not received training on how to intervene on a child’s behalf when bullying occurs on the school bus — a tough location for victims since there is nowhere to hide. According to NEA’s first nationwide survey on bullying, bus drivers were more likely than other education support professionals to report witnessing bullying, with 92 percent stating it is their duty to intervene.
Otha Thornton, national PTA president, said the association is supporting School Bus Safety Month because it has focused on the health, safety and overall well-being of children for 117 years. October is also Bullying Prevention Awareness Month.
“Through our partnership with Child Safety Network, the National PTA will promote what families need to know about safe school bus transportation as well as the importance of safe and focused driving near school buses,” added Thornton.
