Safety Starts with Our Drivers & Aides—and Every Transportation Professional Behind the Scenes!

As we begin National School Bus Safety Week, October 19–23, 2026, NASDPTS celebrates the dedicated people who help keep students safe each and every day.

Our drivers and aides provide attentive care on every ride. Behind the scenes, dispatchers coordinate routes and communication, maintenance staff keep buses ready for safe service, office staff support daily operations, and supervisors and directors lead teams with safety at the center.

To every school transportation professional: thank you for your skill, care, and commitment to our students.

Every role. Every student. Every day.

#NationalSchoolBusSafetyWeek #NASDPTS #SchoolBusSafety #StudentSafety

The most important stop you can make is for a school bus.

Behind every flashing red light and extended STOP arm are students counting on motorists to protect them.

This National School Bus Safety Week, NASDPTS reminds drivers: stop illegal passing. Protect students.

Slow down and prepare to stop when yellow warning lights flash.
Stop when red lights flash and the STOP arm extends.
Stay alert for students boarding, exiting, or crossing.
Remain stopped until the red lights stop flashing, the STOP arm retracts, and the bus begins moving. Know and follow your state’s school bus stopping laws.

A few moments of patience can protect a child’s future. Make the stop that matters.

#NationalSchoolBusSafetyWeek #NASDPTS #StopForSchoolBuses #StopIllegalPassing

Safe seating. Every student. Every ride.

This National School Bus Safety Week, NASDPTS reminds students: buckle up when belts are provided—and sit correctly on every ride.

✅ Position the lap belt: Keep it low and snug across the hips or upper thighs, never across the stomach or soft abdomen.

✅ Position the shoulder belt: Keep it snug across the center of the shoulder and chest—not against the neck or slipping off the shoulder. Never place it under an arm or behind the back.

✅ Adjust the height: If the seat has a sliding shoulder-height adjuster, move it to match the student’s height so the belt crosses the shoulder correctly.

✅ Buckle and check: Insert the latch plate until it clicks, tug to confirm it is locked, and remove excess slack. Ask the driver or aide for help with proper fit.

On a large school bus without seat belts, strong, high, padded, closely spaced seat backs create a protective seating area called compartmentalization, designed to help cushion and contain passengers during a crash. This protection is also present on buses with belts.

Sit with your back against the seat, face forward, stay fully within your seating space, and keep your bookbag in your lap and the aisle clear.

#NationalSchoolBusSafetyWeek #NASDPTS #SchoolBusSafety #BuckleUp #SafeSeating

Built for safety. Driven by professionals.

School buses are the safest way for students to travel to and from school. Their protection comes from a combination of specialized design, qualified drivers, and ongoing safety preparation.

This National School Bus Safety Week, NASDPTS highlights what makes the yellow school bus special:

✅ Professionally trained and screened drivers who meet licensing and qualification requirements.

✅ DOT drug and alcohol requirements for drivers operating buses that require a commercial driver’s license.

✅ Protective construction: reinforced body structure, roof-strength and body-joint standards, and the size and elevated seating of large buses help protect passengers.

✅ Bright yellow color, flashing yellow and red warning lights, and STOP arms help motorists recognize the bus and respond safely.

✅ Cross-view mirrors help drivers see areas around the front and sides of the bus.

✅ Protective seating uses strong, high, padded, closely spaced seat backs. Seat belts, when provided, add protection when worn correctly.

✅ Daily pre-trip checks, regular safety inspections, and maintenance help keep buses ready for students.

✅ Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) establish requirements for school bus construction and safety systems.

✅ Emergency exits, safety equipment, and evacuation training support preparedness for emergencies.

Every feature has a purpose. Every professional has a role. Every student matters.

#NationalSchoolBusSafetyWeek #NASDPTS #SchoolBusSafety #BuiltForSafety

Know the danger zone. Be seen. Stay safe.

The danger zone is the area around a school bus where students may be difficult for the driver to see. Safe habits matter every time students board, exit, or cross.

This National School Bus Safety Week, NASDPTS reminds students and families:

Stand back. Wait at least 10 feet—five giant steps—from the curb. Stay back until the bus has completely stopped and the driver directs you to board.

See the driver. Be seen by the driver. Make eye contact and stay where the driver can see you. Never assume the driver knows you are there.

Wait for the signal. Follow your driver’s directions before approaching the bus or crossing the road.

Cross in front—never behind. If you need to cross, walk along the sidewalk or roadside to a point at least 10 feet in front of the bus. Wait for the driver’s signal, then look left–right–left and confirm traffic has stopped before entering the road. Keep watching as you cross.

Exit carefully and move away. Use the handrail, walk rather than run, and move clear of the bus while staying in the driver’s view.

Dropped something? Tell the driver. Never reach near or under the bus to retrieve it yourself.

Families: practice these steps together. Motorists: stop for the bus and give students the space to travel safely.

#NationalSchoolBusSafetyWeek #NASDPTS #SchoolBusSafety #KnowTheDangerZone #BeSeenStaySafe