New School Bus Safety Shield Saves Lives with Made in the U.S. Products by Inventor Mark B. Barron and adds Jobs for Veterans

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Public Transportation Safety International (PTS), announces the release of its first safety shield for school buses that prevents fatalities and injuries to children. Hesperia Unified School District (HUSD) is slated for pre-delivery of the MDZ Shield on future school bus orders.

The Minimize Danger Zone (MDZ) Shield is the first protective device to eliminate the "danger zone gap" (sometimes as high as two feet) between the school bus tire and right rear wheel well. The affordable and proven MDZ Shield literally prevents children from being scooped under the bus.

With five tragic incidents of school bus-related child casualties in Nevada and the October 28, 2016 fatality in Massachusetts, the need for a protective rear side shield is imperative. "When it comes to a child, even one accidental death is one too many," said Mark B. Barron, inventor of the MDZ Shield and CEO of PTS.

"I commend city officials and the school district of Hesperia," said Barron, "for being first in the country to implement pre-delivery installation of the MDZ Shield on future school bus orders."

On November 11, 2016 at 3 p.m., PTS will hold a dedication ceremony to present city and state officials with a plaque commemorating this progressive step. Attending the event will be Assemblyman Jay Obernolte, Hesperia Mayor Phil Holland, HUSD Board of Trustees Vice President Ella Rogers, Fontana Mayor Acquanetta Warren, and other distinguished guests.

The event will take place at the headquarters of the MDZ Shield manufacturer, Turret Punch Company (TPC), located at 7780 Edison Ave, Fontana, California, 92336.  Owner of TPC, Steven Lang, says he is hopeful this opportunity will create more jobs and that he'll be able to hire more veterans. "There's nothing I'd like better than to be able to create new jobs for veterans," said Lang. "My dad was a World War II veteran."

"Today's children are more vulnerable than ever to accidents," said Barron. "They're weighed down by heavy backpacks and distracted by hand-held devices. The time is right for parents, educators, and legislators to get proactive about these preventable tragedies in their communities."

About PTS - A Leader in Vehicular Safety for Transit Buses

Founded in 1993, PTS first earned recognition for its contribution to vehicular safety with the development of the S1-GARD, a polyurethane guard which deflects pedestrians out of the path of the right rear wheel well on transit buses. The S-1 GARD is currently in use in 74 U.S. cities as well as overseas, and has been adopted for use in theme parks (i.e. Disney World) and airports. It was awarded the highest Traffic Safety Award for Supplier of the Year at the 2015 Transport Forum in Linköping, Sweden. PST is an innovator of cyclist and pedestrian safety. For more information, visit http://www.s1gard.com/home.html.

About MDZ Shield

Barron explains that since school buses are constructed on a truck chassis, they maintain a high profile that minimizes the damage from side impact collisions but that allows for a dangerously high gap between the rocker panel and road's surface. The MDZ Shield eliminates that gap thereby addressing the number one danger surrounding child safety in proximity to school buses. For more information, visit http://www.mdzshield.com/home.html.

About Turret Punch Company

Turret Punch Company, manufacturer of the S1-GARD, will host the dedication. Founder, William Lang was a veteran of WWII. From the family garage the company expanded into their first polyurethane  manufacturing plant in Los Angeles followed by an expansion to a larger facility in Santa Fe Springs. In 2011, the company purchased a new 20,000 square foot building.  For more information, visit http://www.goturethane.com.

Media Contact:  Monica Matulich, (310) 383-9502, [email protected]

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SOURCE Public Transportation Safety International