First Student Recognizes Love the Bus Month

FEBRUARY 2, 2016 - CINCINNATI - More than 25 million students start and finish their school days on the yellow school bus. First Student joins the American School Bus Council (ASBC) in recognizing school bus drivers across the United States for their dedication to the safe transportation of students during Love the Bus month.

"Our drivers and monitors work hard each and every day to ensure the safety of the students we transport," said First Student President Dennis R. Maple. "We fully support 'Love the Bus' month and the opportunity to recognize our dedicated team for their commitment to providing the districts we serve with the safest, most reliable transportation to and from school."

First Student will celebrate Love the Bus month throughout February. The company is providing school district partners with materials for students, including coloring and safety tip sheets. Students can also personalize a valentine to give to bus drivers. Safety Dog, the First Student safety mascot, will make appearances at several schools. First Student will also recognize employees and share school bus facts on its social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Riding a school bus is the safest way for students to get to and from school. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, school buses are 23 times safer than passenger cars and 10 times safer than walking.

Advances in technology and safety features have made school buses safer than ever. First Student led the industry by installing advanced tools such as GPS systems, crossing gates and Child Check-Mate® on buses.

First Student drivers typically complete more than 50 hours of training before driving passengers, which is more than the Federal Aviation Administration requires of student pilots. As a result of this commitment to safety, First Student buses are twice as safe as the industry average.

The ASBC created Love the Bus month in 2007 to raise awareness and appreciation for the experience of riding the school bus, as well as provide recognition for the drivers who serve students in their communities.

About First Student, Inc.
As the leading school transportation solutions provider in North America, First Student strives to provide the best start and finish to every school day. First Student completes six million student journeys each day, moving more passengers than all U.S. airlines combined. With a team of highly-trained drivers and the industry's strongest safety record, First Student delivers reliable, quality services including full-service transportation and management, special-needs transportation, route optimization and scheduling, and charter services for 1,300 school district contracts. For more information, please visit www.firststudentinc.com.