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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Septemberr 9, 2000

DURHAM SCHOOL SERVICES DISTRIBUTES AWARENESS BRACELETS RECOGNIZING SAFETY COMMITMENT AND EMPLOYEE EFFORTS
Company continues stop arm violation campaign during National School Bus Safety Week

AUSTIN, TX... Durham School Services announced today the distribution of awareness bracelets to all Durham employees, further highlighting the company’s commitment to safety. In addition, the blue, gold, and white bracelets, stating “DRIVE WITH PRIDE,” aim to recognize the hard work of the company’s school bus drivers, support staff, and members of management who work hard to get kids to school safe, on time, and ready to learn…every day.

The distribution of over 11,000 bracelets to Durham locations in 21 states coincides with the activities of National School Bus Safety Week (NSBSW) as recognized by the National Association of Pupil Transportation. It’s during National School Bus Safety Week the spotlight shines on the industry. Durham takes advantage of the extra attention to educate student, parents, teachers, and motorists about school bus safety. This year’s National School Bus Safety Week is October 16 – 22. Citizens across the country may notice the “DRIVE WITH PRIDE” bracelets and other Durham efforts, including a campaign to deter motorists from passing school buses that are loading or unloading.

In 2002, taking advantage of the heightened awareness during NSBSW, Durham launched a stop arm violations campaign. Because of the positive results, the company now does the campaign every October. A stop arm violation is when a motorist passes a school bus and the red lights are flashing or the stop arm is extended. The campaign partners Durham drivers with members of law enforcement to identify these motorists and issue citations. The citations can cost up to $500 in some states. But, most importantly, the violation can cost a life.

Statistics show children are three times as likely to be hurt or killed outside the bus at bus stops as they are on the inside, by crashes. This is particularly true of young children, who are especially difficult to see from the driver’s seat. According to Durham, children and passing motorists must be aware of the single most dangerous thing about the bus—the area surrounding it when it’s standing still—the Danger Zone.

“Durham works hard to teach school bus safety and, even though the school bus is the safest form of transportation on the road today, we will do all we can to continue to get the word out that it’s illegal to pass a stopped school bus and a young life is not worth the time you save passing the school bus,” said Bob Ramsdell, vice president of safety education and development for Durham. “We strongly believe our stop arm violation campaign every October does this in addition to our ongoing efforts to further help children understand the safety rules. Safety is our number one priority.”

Durham’s education efforts supplement the company’s stringent hiring and training requirements for drivers, which in many cases exceed the state’s requirements. As the company’s front line safety “evangelists,” the drivers use many education tools to teach the school bus safety rules. Those rules include:

1. Stay out of the bus’s “Danger Zone”—take 10 giant steps back from the curb while waiting for the bus and 10 steps when you get off the bus. Remember: if you can touch the bus, you’re way too close.
2. Don’t ever try to get anything you may have left on the bus after you’ve already gotten off or pick up anything you may drop underneath the bus—things can be replaced, children can’t.
3. Always follow the driver’s directions about how to cross the street. Be alert to traffic, look both ways, and always walk in front of the bus.