Smart Safe School Bus: a pilot study in Kristianstad

Some 400,000 children go to school by school bus in Sweden every day. The most risky situation is when the child is outside the bus entering or exiting, lack of routines being the major cause. The present study utilised off-the-shelf technology, in order to create a driver support system that raises the level of routines in school transportation and facilitates communication between the drivers and the children. Two buses, driven by seven drivers were equipped with the system during 2008, comprising data for 130 children. Moreover, two bus stops were equipped with flashing lights, triggered by radio transmitters that the children wore. The evaluations of the system showed that it does raise the level of routines and allows the drivers to survey the children in order to take action in case of an emergency. The system has frequently been used in all its parts and been considered useful. Children reported feeling more secure with the system and experienced less stress as a benefit of it. The average speed of cars has significantly been reduced by the flashing bus stops. For the cost of 0.5-2 SEK per school day and child, the system could prevent fatal injuries in school transportation, generating monetary benefits on a societal level.