Decoding the role of a GPS Tracking Software in maintaining student safety

What is GPS Tracking System?

GPS tracking software is a satellite-based navigation device that helps you locate the exact location of a particular object, person, or other things that you may wish to track. The software uses the latest smart technology of the Global Positioning System to determine the precise location of the object and ensure that it gets updated in real-time.

How Does GPS Tracking System For School Buses Work?

A school bus tracking system coupled with a school bus tracking app on the mobile devices of the parents and school administration team gives constant updates on the whereabouts of the vehicle. Using Global Positioning System (GPS) all that is needed is a smart device with the school bus tracking installed in it.

What Is The Importance Of GPS Tracking System For School Buses?

Schools and school transportation companies have one key responsibility – to ensure the safety of the students and make certain that the students commute to school and back on time. A GPS school bus tracking ensures that the school bus administration team has all the up-to-date information about bus location, driver actions, and vehicle. This benefits the school and the parents in several ways.

Here are some important benefits of using tracking software for School Buses:

• Ensure Real-time Tracking and Access to Location Information

A school bus with a GPS system allows for real-time location tracking. With this, both the school authorities and parents can track the school bus in real-time. The GPS tracking system ensures that parents are sent alerts as soon as the bus leaves the school premises. They can also follow the route of the bus on the app so they are aware of any deviation in the route or any delays because of traffic.

In the event of the school bus arriving late for either a pickup or a drop, it immediately notifies the school and the parents on the app, thus reducing any stress.  This feature is especially useful when the students are going on school trips, excursions, sporting events or school picnics outside of the traditional school hours.

This real-time school bus tracker is an advantageous feature that the school can promote as one of their measures to ensure child safety.

• Ensure Driver Accountability and Responsibility

When the parents use the school transportation system, they place all their trust in the school administration team and the bus drivers. Hence it is very important for the school to have a system where the drivers are accountable for the safety of the students, and the maintenance of the buses.

The school GPS tracking system prevents the driver and bus staff from indulging in any foul play as they know that they are in constant real-time surveillance.

Thus, this acts as a rein to keep the driver accountable and responsible for his actions.

Additionally, the school bus driver is also held accountable for factors such as driver punctuality, number of trips, hours of travel, fuel usage

For instance, the school administration team can receive updates every time the bus is on the move. This ensures that the school bus tracking device sends an alert of the school transport administrator every time the school bus engine is switched on. This prevents the unauthorized use or fraudulent use of the school bus.

• Ensure Compliance of all Traffic Rules and Adhere to Speed Guidelines

A common challenge that schools struggle with and a common complaint that all schools receive about their school drivers and school busses is that drivers often violate traffic rules. Complaints such as speeding, breaking signals are very common with school bus drivers – many of whom are in a lot of pressure to reach their destination on time.

The school bus GPS tracking system not only provides real-time location of the bus, but also helps the school to monitor other logistics like speed, routes etc. Additionally, the school bus GPS tracking system also provides proof of misconduct on the road, in case the driver denies unnecessary speeding or deviating from the route.

This ensures that the students are safe in the school bus as they are remotely monitored during the commute.

• Ensure a Reduction in Resource and Time Wastage and Augment Efficiency

Schools have a limited number of busses. This makes it very important for schools to ensure that there is no time or resource wastage when it comes to the school busses. The use of the school bus GPS tracking system increases efficiency manifold by monitoring the buses and thereby reducing costs. School authorities can monitor bus routes over a period of time to understand the time and fuel investment for a specific route. Based on this information, they can explore alternative routes that can save time as well are as less fuel-intensive. Shorter routes also mean that students reach home faster, the school saves fuel money and minimizes idle time for the buses. This goes a long way in saving costs for the school.

• Ensure Better Scheduling by Anticipating Delays 

Often the school busses get delayed because of massive traffic jams. These delays often become a source of stress among the parents, who need to shuffle their schedules according to the revised drop or pick up time. The parents also have to ring up school authorities to understand the cause of delay and get the revised schedule. This wastes the time of the school but by tracking the school bus in real time, parents are immediately ware of any delays in the arrival of the bus. It also notifies parents in case of breakdowns in the bus. Similarly, if buses get late while coming to school, real-time tracking allows school authorities to reschedule important tests, exams or assemblies until the students arrive. This prevents any academic or cultural loss that the child may face due to no fault of theirs.

In conclusion, 

Today, schools need to understand the importance of child safety and invest in GPS tracking apps that offer numerous advantages to the school and the parents. School management software with a school bus management module enhances the safety and security of the students making it the need of the hour for every educational institute.

SpotBus Inc offers a school transport management module using which the institute not only tracks the school bus in real-time but also manages the entire fleet management system from a single platform.