ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A newly launched program trains the nation’s school bus drivers to identify and react to potential terrorist threats.
The course, dubbed School Bus Watch, provides drivers with background on terrorism and tips on how to prevent it in the pupil transportation industry. Graduates of the course can use a special hotline to contact emergency personnel.
The program is a collaboration of four organizations: the National Association for Pupil Transportation, the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services, the National School Transportation Association and Highway Watch.
The Highway Watch program, which is run by the American Trucking Associations, provides a curriculum for various types of transportation professionals. School Bus Watch was designed to include scenarios specific to pupil transportation.
The training program is provided free of charge to school bus drivers across the country. Transportation operations that wish to participate should contact the School Bus Information Council by calling (888) 367-7242 or by visiting its Web site, www.schoolbusinfo.org.