Back to school: Bibb County School District increases safety for bus riders

The app gives real time updates when the bus is turned on, not when it is parked.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Bibb County School District has put an increased safety measure in place for parents and caregivers who have students who ride the bus.

The school district is utilizing the app ‘My Ride K-12‘ to ensure the safety of students and bus drivers.

The Executive Director of Transportation at Bibb County School District, Anthony Jackson, says the app is free to download and very beneficial. The app gives real time updates when the bus is turned on, not when it is parked.

Students will use their ID when entering or exiting the bus, and parents get a notification through the app. Jackson says app users must go to settings and enable “student scans” in order to receive live updates.

“We’re still trying to get more buy in from the students to utilize that, and with the parents’ help, I believe we can achieve that,” he said.

The app is paired with a tablet and allows bus drivers to focus on driving as they receive audio commands.

Curtis Adams, Chief of Police at Bibb County School District, says students must also follow the school bus rules. Bus rules are posted on every bus and can also be found in the student handbook.

“I just ask that everyone be safe, be respectful of everyone’s ability to have a safe ride back to school, to come to a safe learning environment,” Adams said. “That’s all I ask for. That everyone come, obey the rules, listen to the bus drivers, be respectful of everyone’s space on the bus.”

The Bibb County School District hopes that with these extra safety measures in place, parents feel more at ease as they send their students to school.