Safe Journeys: Key School Bus Safety Guidelines for Parents and Schools

Ensuring children’s safety during their school commute is a top priority for both schools and parents. With potential risks such as traffic, bullying, and accidents, it is vital that school buses adhere to strict safety standards. Here’s a summary of the key safety measures and guidelines for both schools and parents: Vehicle Safety: Bus Appearance: School buses must be yellow with the school's name displayed prominently. “School bus” should be labeled on the front and back. Driver Information: The bus must display the driver’s details and the contact number of the bus in-charge. Safety Equipment: Each bus should be equipped with emergency exits, fire extinguishers, a first aid kit, and clean drinking water. Technology: GPS and CCTV cameras are required for tracking and monitoring. Driver and Road Safety: Qualifications: Drivers must have a valid license and at least 5 years of experience. Speed Limits: The bus should not exceed a speed limit of 40 km/hr. Violations can lead to penalties or even license cancellation. Bus Attendant: A trained attendant should be present on the bus, and the bus must be insured and not overcrowded. School and Parental Responsibilities: School Responsibilities: Ensure bus doors are locked before departure. Provide a mobile phone on the bus for emergency contact. Parental Responsibilities: Arrange and confirm pickup and drop-off details with the school. If unable to pick up their child, parents should inform the school. The driver must return the child to school if no one is at the pickup point. Recent inspections have uncovered some lapses in compliance with these safety measures. For example, in Rajasthan, new guidelines now include police verification for drivers and clear bus markings to enhance safety. Additionally, modern solutions like TRAKOM offer advanced features such as live tracking and automated attendance to further ensure student safety. Schools should consider adopting such technologies to provide a safer commuting experience. For more details on TRAKOM, visit Asti Infotech. Both schools and parents must work together to uphold these safety standards to ensure every child’s journey to and from school is as safe as possible.