Zum Introduces Map Management Features to Enhance Route Safety and Accuracy

Today Zūm announced two new map management tools that give transportation coordinators precise control over their routes, increasing safety and efficiency for their district’s student transportation. 

The features address how standard mapping data doesn’t always reflect the realities of a school  district: New neighborhoods may be missing, street names might not match records, or certain roads may be unsuitable for buses. Zum’s two new map management features, Custom Addresses and Road Restrictions, aim to solve these.

Zum’s Custom Addresses feature bridges this gap and allows coordinators to:

• Create addresses that aren’t available in standard mapping services
• Define precise coordinates with custom street names and numbers
• Add points of interest for easier identification

When one of Zum’s partner districts faced challenges with mapping data that didn’t match their property records, they used the Custom Addresses feature to create addresses that matched their official property tax records and ensure consistent address information across all systems. As a result, this eliminated confusion between transportation data and district records and improved communication accuracy with parents and staff.

Zum’s second new map management feature, Road Restrictions, enables coordinators to:

• Define “no-go” street segments that buses should avoid
• Specify restrictions for particular vehicle types
• Prevent routing errors before they reach drivers
• Create safer routes that comply with local traffic regulations

Boston Public Schools used Zum’s Road Restrictions feature to address unique urban transportation challenges: By defining restrictions for low bridges and narrow streets with tight turns, the district was able to prevent large buses from being routed into problematic areas and reduce the risk of vehicles getting stuck or damaged. This also improved driver and router confidence and enhanced overall safety for students and drivers.

Transportation coordinators report that this level of control leads to safer routes with less risk of driver error, creating a safer, more reliable transportation experience for everyone.

These map management features are now being implemented in Zum’s partner districts nationwide.