SACRAMENTO – Each year in California, more than one million school pupils are transported to and from school, or school-related activities. Keeping these children safe as they travel our roads is a top priority for the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and its efforts have not gone unnoticed.
On Thursday, May 8, 2014, CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow accepted the 2014 California State Child Safety Award on behalf of the state law enforcement agency. The award from the Child Safety Network was presented at the 115th Annual California State PTA convention in Los Angeles and is considered the highest state honor for excellence in the protection of children and youth.
“The men and women of the California Highway Patrol share my enthusiasm for saving lives, in particular, the lives of our children and youth,” said Commissioner Farrow. “We take great pride in the fact that the CHP’s School Bus Program is designed to ensure the highest level of safety for California’s students.”
California is the only state that has a Special Driver Certificate Program. Certification is accomplished through an intense qualification and testing process administered by the CHP, along with the Department of Education and the Department of Motor Vehicles. Because of this process, only the most qualified drivers are issued the required school bus driver certificate. Currently, there are approximately 33,000 certified school bus drivers in California.
In addition to ensuring the highest level of safety for California’s school bus drivers through a certification program, the CHP is responsible for the annual inspection and certification of more than 23,000 school buses in California.
“As a result of the strong emphasis placed on school bus safety, coupled with the continued dedication and professionalism of school bus drivers throughout the state, California has not experienced a pupil passenger fatality on a school bus since 1995,” added Commissioner Farrow.
The mission of the California Highway Patrol is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security to the people of California.