Zum Celebrates National School Bus Safety Week with Events Nationwide and Tips for Families and Students

Zūm is marking National School Bus Safety Week (Oct. 21-25) with events at its bus yards nationwide and tips to ensure every child has a safe bus ride to and from school.

Top Five tips for families to ensure school bus safety:

1. Keep a Safe Distance: When waiting for the bus, students should stand at least 10 feet away from the edge of the road.
2. Always Cross in Front: Students who need to cross the street when getting on or off of the bus should always walk in front of the bus, never behind it. Most importantly: before crossing in front of the bus, students should wait for the driver’s signal to cross.
3. Do Not Pass: Motorists are required by law to stop for stopped school buses that are displaying flashing red lights and a stop arm. Never pass a stopped school bus.
4. Shine Bright: Bright clothing and reflective gear on jackets, shoes, hats, and backpacks increases a student’s odds of being seen by drivers, especially if students are traveling at dawn or dusk.
5. Meet Your Kids at the Stop: Those adults or family members who meet children at the bus stop after school should wait on the side where the child will be dropped off, not across the street.

Safety First: School bus safety is a pressing issue for parents: In Zum’s 2024 Student Transportation Report Card, an annual commissioned survey of parents and guardians nationwide that examines parents’ views of the school bus system, 84%respondents felt the school bus system in America could improve. When asked to name their biggest concern about their child while riding the school bus, the majority of parents said safety.

“No parent should have to worry about whether or not their child made it to and from school safely when riding the school bus each day,” said Ritu Narayan, CEO and founder at Zum. “Zum’s technology is built to provide transparency for parents and schools, making the bus ride safer, more reliable and more equitable. Through our groundbreaking technology and driver training programs, we are proud to be raising the bar and influencing new safety standards and conversations in the industry.”

Thanks to all of Zum’s amazing drivers who put safety first and to the families and schools we serve!