Modern student transportation provider launches advanced communication tools to ensure safe trips to and from school
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Oct. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Zūm, the leader in modern student transportation, is recognizing National School Bus Safety Week (Oct. 21-25) with several initiatives and new features that emphasize its mission to provide safe, reliable rides to and from school.
Zum's 360-degree approach to safety ensures student safety and well-being is the top priority before, during and after every ride. Its first-of-its-kind safety tools include SafeGuard, Zum's vehicle safety technology and driver training/certification program; and a new, tech-enabled communication tool that sends important messages to drivers in real-time.
"No parent should have to worry about whether or not their child made it to and from school safely when riding the school bus each day," said Ritu Narayan, CEO and founder at Zum. "Zum's technology is built to provide transparency for parents and schools, making the bus ride safer, more reliable and more equitable. Through our groundbreaking technology and driver training programs, we are proud to be raising the bar and influencing new safety standards and conversations in the industry."
School bus safety is a pressing issue for parents: In Zum's 2024 Student Transportation Report Card, an annual commissioned survey that examines parents' views of the school bus system, the vast majority of respondents felt the school bus system in America could improve (84%). When asked to name their biggest concern about their child while riding the school bus, the majority of parents said safety.
Ways Zum is Keeping Children Safe on the School Bus:
Unlike radio communication, this tool enables all drivers to receive the same information simultaneously. The delivery of these messages is integrated into a driver's daily workflow via the driver tablet, and administrators can track when drivers received them. This feature is now being implemented in Zum's partner school districts nationwide.
For families, the Zum App allows parents to see a profile of their child's driver, along with real-time information about vehicle location and their child's pickup or dropoff status. These enhanced features are built to keep students safe from the moment they get on the bus until they are back home again.
Zum has added specialized modules focused on behavioral science, response and de-escalation tactics and effective communication with parents and school districts. These courses are geared toward creating a safe and respectful environment on the school bus and better equip Zum drivers with a variety of skills and methods to provide personalized care, emergency response and increased transparency between the drivers, parents and school district staff.
Curriculum encompasses behavioral science, reinforcement strategies, an overview of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the importance of structure and routine, de-escalation tactics and effective communicating/reporting. This helps drivers to better understand how to provide more personalized care and ensure transparency, a critical component of Zum's model.
Additionally, Zum will recognize National School Bus Safety Week by holding events at Zum bus yards nationwide.
To learn more about how Zum is working with thousands of schools across the nation to modernize student transportation, please visit Zum's website.
About Zūm
Zum is a modern transportation solution transforming school transportation, the largest mass transit system in the U.S. Today, the company provides turnkey modern transportation solutions to school districts in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Utah, and Virginia, and is expanding rapidly nationwide. Recognized globally for its innovative transportation and energy as a service platform, Zum has been featured among Fast Company's World Changing Ideas, CNBC Disruptor 50, CNBC Changemakers, World Economic Forum and Financial Times' Fastest Growing Companies. Learn more about Zum at www.ridezum.com.
CONTACT:
Jenny Mayfield, Vice President of Communications – press@ridezum.com
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SOURCE Zūm