Transportation Department Safety Initiatives Video
School Safety Patrol Program
The School Safety Patrol Program (SSPP), developed by the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA), is a three-way partnership among the CAA, Police Services and school boards. It is a voluntary, elementary school program. School-selected students must attend a training session conducted by the Hamilton Police Services. At the school level, a teacher supervisor is responsible for coordinating the SSPP and for supervising the student bus and foot patrollers.
C.A.A. School Saftey Patrol Program - Student PSA Video Contest
Learn more about this important safety initiative by clicking on the following Public Safety Announcements (PSAs).
Runner Up - Mustafa Rahimi
The Safe Rider Program starring Buster the Bus
The Safe Rider Program is a 35-minute interactive school bus safety and behaviour program utilizing video, sound, graphics and the robotic Buster the Bus as well as additional props. The program is interactive utilizing three student and one teacher volunteers. Students participate in a sing-song and each receives a Buster the Bus colouring book.
Target Audience: Grades JK-3.
Safety Order and Rights Program (S.O.A.R. Program)
The S.O.A.R. program is a 35-minute interactive school bus safety and behaviour program utilizing video, sound, graphics, acting and a "Newscast" format. The program changes format each year while retaining the same focus on safety, order and rights while riding the school bus. The program utilizes 5 Grade 7 or 8 students as volunteers who appear in the program. They act as role models for the younger students.
Target Audience: Grades 4-8.
First Rider Program
In order to introduce JK and SK students and their parents to the school bus environment and rules, First Rider sessions are held at various locations around the Hamilton-Wentworth region. Sessions are approximately 45 minutes in length. Students watch a video on bus safety and are asked questions related to the information on the video. Students then go out to a real school bus where they go on a ride with their parents. Once the ride is over, the driver shows the students and parents all the safety features on the bus. Students are given an information package with a certificate with their name on it.
Target Audience: Junior and Senior Kindergarten students and their parents.
Procedures for Transporting Students to and from School
The Procedures booklet contains procedures for parents, students, drivers and school staff members. The procedures are not inflexible rules; rather, they are guidelines to be interpreted according to the unique needs of the student and according to specific situations. The booklet also contains a voluntary Acknowledgement and Student Information form for parents to describe the special needs of the child; this information is shared by the principal with the Transportation Department, carriers and drivers for the purpose of assisting the student if the need arises. As well, the Transportation Report form is to be filled out by drivers for individual or group behaviour incidents.
Target Audience: Parents, students, school staff members, vehicle drivers.
Driver In-service sessions
To provide opportunities to instruct drivers on specific topics, and for drivers to give input on issues related to their role, in-service sessions are held two to three times a year for school taxi and bus drivers. These sessions are held during the school day and generally last for two hours. Topics covered to date include the Board's Procedures to Transporting Students to and From School, behaviour management, bullying and dealing with stress.
Target Audience: School taxi and bus drivers, carrier representatives
Transportation Resource Allocation Control System (T.R.A.C.S.)
T.R.A.C.S. was created as a vehicle system for safety, efficiency and analysis purposes. It is a wide-ranging, internet-based tool designed to distribute, collect and analyze student transportation data. Each transportation partner has dedicated web tools for these purposes.
T.R.A.C.S. has reduced 80% of the Transportation and Transportation Department's carriers previous labour-intensive manual process. De-centralization of information has resulted in a team-based approach to transportation in HWDSB. Contributions from one partner assist all others.
Target Audience: Board staff, parents, students, schools, bus companies.
