Student Transportation of America Encourages Families to Practice Winter Preparedness

Offers Tips for Driving in Adverse Road Conditions

WALL, N.J., Feb. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Student Transportation of America (STA), an industry leader in student transportation, safety, and fleet services, seeks to remind students, guardians, and fellow drivers of the importance of winter preparedness—especially for those in the Northern states—as winter weather continues to impact the safety of road conditions and bus stops. With temperatures dropping coupled with darker mornings and potentially a wintery mix, those sharing the road need to be more aware of how these conditions can potentially impact student safety in the coming months.

"Winter weather can present challenges for school transportation, which is why we work closely with our district partners to evaluate road conditions and make safety adjustments. Our drivers are trained to navigate winter conditions, but it's important to remember safety is always a shared effort," said Shelly Hall, Senior Vice President of Health & Safety for STA "We encourage students to dress warmly, stay alert at bus stops, and be mindful of icy conditions. By working together and staying aware, we can help ensure a safe and smooth ride for everyone this season."

Winter driving can be a challenge for even the most experienced driver. STA offers some best practices for sharing the road:

• Adjust your speed. Slippery conditions require longer brake times, especially for a school bus which is heavier than a traditional vehicle. As a general rule, drivers, regardless of vehicle, should adjust their speed to plan for at least three times more braking distance than normal.
• Follow at a safe distance. Anytime winter weather is present, increase your following distance up to six seconds, instead of the usual four. This will be particularly helpful when driving near a school bus or coming up to a student bus stop.
• Watch for black ice. The ground heats more slowly than the air above it, so roads may be icy even when the outside temperature is above freezing. Dangerous black ice has a matte appearance and tends to form overnight or in the early morning hours. Students may need a little extra time boarding and exiting the buses, as well as crossing roads.
• Remember roadways thaw unevenly. Bridges, overpasses, and shaded areas tend to remain icy even when other parts of the roadway may have thawed. School buses often reduce speeds in these areas to avoid unnecessary accidents and encourage other drivers to do the same.

In addition to being vigilant on the roads, students and guardians can take additional measures on chilly school mornings. Students should dress appropriately for the temperature and wear hats, boots, gloves, and other winter clothing to stay warm while waiting outside at the bus stop. Students should also plan to arrive early at the bus stop, knowing that sidewalks, driveways, and roadways may not have been shoveled or salted yet so students may need that extra time to navigate to the stop.

STA recommends that all students should stay observant of nearby traffic and refrain from playing in the snow piles to limit distractions and prevent unnecessary accidents. While waiting at the bus stop, guardians should encourage their students to stay a few steps farther back and wait for the driver to signal for them to come aboard safely as it may take longer for the bus to come to a complete stop.

STA's terminal and maintenance teams do take proactive steps to prepare their fleets for the winter. This includes regularly checking tires, batteries, heaters, wipers, fluids, fuel levels, and lights to ensure maintenance tasks are up to date prior to leaving the bus yard. In addition, ground crews make daily assessments of the road conditions and work closely with District partners to make decisions in real-time. This safety-first approach serves as the cornerstone of STA's mission as a student transportation provider.

With comprehensive employee training programs and proven driver safety practices to onboard vehicle technology, rigorous maintenance schedules, and advanced compliance systems, STA has become a trusted industry partner for more than 325 districts. STA's strongest asset is its skilled, safe, professionally trained drivers. To learn more, visit: rideSTA.com.

About Student Transportation of America
Student Transportation of America (STA), an industry leader in school transportation and fleet services, was founded in 1997 on the bedrock of family, community, and a safety-first mindset. Operating more than 22,000 vehicles, STA provides customers with the highest level of safe and reliable student transportation, management, logistics, and technology solutions throughout the U.S. and Canada. The company is focused on fostering a safety-driven culture that empowers its employees to feel proud of their work, delivering safe, reliable, and on-time service. Additionally, STA's commitment to positively impacting the health of our passengers and the planet is evident through its conscious decision to undertake each initiative to decrease its carbon footprint to help move the company and industry toward a greener future. For more information, please visit www.rideSTA.com.

SOURCE Student Transportation of America