ROAD-E-O HISTORY

In 1965 ODE and OAPSE shared organization of the first School Bus Driver Safety Road-E-O. Consisting of the top 20 drivers in each area coordinator's region, the event was held at Gahanna-Jefferson Local Schools in Columbus, Ohio.

Drivers competed in skills events such as the right turn, railroad crossing procedures, turnarounds, and a 3-barrel serpentine maneuver. (Drivers had to driver forward through the serpentine and then through the serpentine backwards.) A pre-trip inspection to identify 5 "defects" was also part of the competition. A maximum of 15 minutes was permitted to find the 5 items.

Now, the School Bus Driver Safety Road-E-O consists of more than 900 drivers competing at one of 8 regional contests, with the top 6 drivers from each region moving on to the State competition. The top two drivers from the State event are eligible to continue at the International level.

Drivers at all levels are tested on their knowledge of general rules, driving laws, pre-trip inspections and operation procedures in written exams. Drivers then move to the maneuverability course.

Right turn skills, student pick-up and drop-off procedures, turn-around, railroad crossing procedures, offset driving skills, stop line skills, and diminishing clearance, test their maneuvering and driving abilities. All of the events simulate the daily challenges drivers face  while transporting our students on school buses.

These challenges are designed to ensure not only drivers skills, but the ability to safely maneuver Ohio's school buses as they perform their task of providing the safest form of transportation for students to and from school. During the 2006-2007 school year, Ohio's 13,881 school bus drivers drove more than 157, 618,440 miles providing service for more than 933,109 students.

During the first weekend in May, 9 regions will be hosting the school bus drivers as they  take on these challenges. Monday, May 4th, is School Bus Driver Appreciation Day. The best from each of these 9 regions will then be further challenged as they meet in Columbus for the State Road-E-O on May 16th.

Ohio's school bus drivers take pride in what they do; transporting our students to and from school safely.