Risk Management at a Glance for Ontario Schools

Transporting Students

Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death and injury for people between ages 4 and 21 years. Travelling on the highway is the most dangerous single activity we do each day.

In spite of the risk, it is still necessary to transport students as part of the education process. The safest means of transporting students is in a school bus. According to Transport Canada, a passenger travelling in a school bus is 16 times safer than in any other private passenger vehicle. This fact should be taken into consideration whenever students must be transported.

Risk Management Recommendations:

General:

1. Use school buses or public transportation when ever possible.

Volunteer Drivers:

1. Do not permit students to transport other students, or to act as "trip drivers".
2. Do not permit volunteer drivers under age 21 to transport students.
3. Teachers or volunteers driving their personal vehicles to transport students to school activities must sign a Volunteer Driver Form which includes a declaration about proper licensing and insurance. See your board's policies and procedures

Rental Vehicles:

1. Ensure the driver(s) carries the proper class of license. Vehicles rented to transport students for school purposes may require special classes of license to legally operate the vehicle. Operating a vehicle with an improper class of license is illegal, and may void or limit insurance coverages on the vehicle.
2. Ensure the vehicle complies with the safety requirements under the Highway Traffic Act. Rental vehicles used to transport students for school purposes may be subject to safety equipment and inspection regulations under the HTA. See also OSBIE Risk Management Advisory A-2 (Automobile Insurance).

See Recommended Forms and Checklists

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