When your pupils have the opportunity to leave the school environment, excitement soon starts to build. As an educator, one factor that's likely at the forefront of your mind is safety. And no matter what distance you're travelling, the day's safety begins and ends with the transport you use. With that in mind, here's how to ensure your school bus hire experience is both safe and comfortable.

Finding the Right Drivers

When it comes to transporting children, you need to ensure you have the right drivers in place. When choosing between school bus services, look for drivers that have undergone background checks. Doing so ensures they are safe to work with children and provides you and their parents with peace of mind. You may also want to ask about the driver's experience. Drivers who are familiar with the fleet they're operating and the local routes may be more likely to offer a safe experience. 

Choosing Safety Features

As standard, the fleet you choose should have seatbelts. Although the ultimate aim is for there to be no collisions, the driver can't control what other road users do. Seatbelts that have undergone appropriate testing are an excellent line of defence in the event of an accident. Additionally, try to find a bus that offers onboard toilets. When it comes to younger children, coordinating toilet breaks isn't always easy. One way to overcome this frustration is by ensuring a toilet is available onboard. You may also want to look into comfort features such as curtains and air conditioning. Both are great ways to keep temperatures low while you're in transit.

Enhancing Communication

There are two elements of communication for you to focus on when hiring a school bus. First, how well does the company you're looking into communicate with you? If they offer timely and accurate responses, it's a great sign that they're dependable and easy to work with. Next, do they provide onboard communication facilities for you to use? Having a microphone can prove infinitely useful when you're a teacher. It allows you to convey messages to your students instantly, removing the need for you to stand up and shout down the bus. In addition to making communication easier, a microphone can reduce onboard movements. As a result, you're able to protect your own safety as well as that of your students.

Once you're clear on what you want from your school bus service, start looking for quotes to find the best one for your institution.

Contact a school bus service to learn more.