AASHTO Journal - New Rail Crossing Safety Videos for School Bus Drivers

Rail safety nonprofit Operation Lifesaver Inc. (OLI) recently released a new series of rail crossing safety videos tailored for school bus operators.

[Above image by OLI]

The new video series – entitled “Decide Smart, Arrive Safe” – seeks to help school bus drivers understand how to make safe choices when navigating railroad crossings along their routes.

“Our new ‘Decide Smart, Arrive Safe’ video training package enhances our free instruction tools for school bus drivers, providing vital safety information for these transportation professionals,” noted Rachel Maleh, OLI’s executive director, in a statement.

“School bus drivers who view ‘Decide Smart, Arrive Safe’ gain practical tips and information they can use immediately,” she added. “We want all school districts – and their bus drivers – to know about this free rail safety education tool. While crossing incidents involving school buses are infrequent, this new resource can help stop track tragedies and save lives.”

Maleh noted that “Decide Smart, Arrive Safe” is made up of four training videos for school bus drivers:

Know the Signs and Signals reviews important signs and signals around railroad crossings that school bus drivers may encounter along their routes and what they mean.
Know the Facts shares train safety facts drivers need to know to keep themselves and their passengers safe around railroad crossings.
In Their Own Words takes viewers on board a school bus with a demonstration of safe railroad crossing procedures for drivers. The video incorporates peer-to-peer communication, with veteran school bus drivers sharing real-life experiences and safety tips.
5 Alive! shows the five steps school bus drivers should take to make every crossing a safe one.

OLI noted that it created this new rail safety video series through a grant from the Federal Railroad Administration. Additional free resources include a facilitation guide for school bus driver trainers, a student guide for school bus driver trainees, and a post-training quiz, the group noted.