San Diego School Buses Step Up Security, Safety Preparedness

SAN DIEGO, Sept. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- With emergency preparedness now more than ever the public's expectation for government services, San Diego school bus officials today announced that big yellow school buses are being equipped with the latest inspection technology to guard against possible terrorist actions, improve safety, and ensure the transportation system is run as efficiently as possible for taxpayers.

Alexandra Robinson, Transportation Services Department director for San Diego Unified School District said, "When it comes to vigilance in protecting the children we carry every day, there's no place for the 'it can't happen here' mentality."

"We are rapidly phasing in electronic vehicle inspection systems because we view it as the best way to ensure that no bus rolls until it is checked thoroughly from front to back, and that we have a verifiable record of the inspection. As the mother of a school-age child myself, in the post 9/11 world, it's all about the accountability that parents now expect."

The safety and security system being phased into San Diego school buses is designed and supplied by Seattle-based Zonar(R) Systems. It uses electronic sensors mounted at key locations on each bus. The bus driver uses a hand-held electronic monitor to "check in" and inspect each sensor position, entering into the system anything suspicious or safety/maintenance concerns. Information then is electronically transferred to a central database to provide the school district with immediate problem alerts and a permanent record that the checks were performed.
Robinson said a portion of San Diego Unified's 500 buses already have the equipment installed and more installations will soon be done. "We plan to outfit more vehicles as soon as possible in order to realize the maximum benefit for our students and community; Zonar will be considered standard safety equipment in the not too distant future. In addition to the security benefit, it makes us more efficient. State resources are tight and we have an obligation to build in as much cost and operational efficiency as possible."

Tim LaToure of San Diego contractor First Student that operates 130 school buses in San Diego County echoed her sentiments, "All of our buses are equipped with the Zonar security system. Because school buses are everywhere, there is an inherent vulnerability that we want to minimize."

"A good safety and security record doesn't just happen," LaToure said. "Before families in San Diego wake up every morning, much is going on behind- the-scenes to ensure the safe passage of their children riding in yellow school buses. It may look very routine, but it's not."

Robinson explained that the U.S. Departments of Homeland Security and Education issued a joint security warning last year on possible terrorist activities against children in schools and on school buses. And, the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) -- the organization representing those who operate school buses in the states -- passed a resolution calling on the federal government to include school buses among its highest risk categories of terrorism targets.

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