Student Crossing Safety Gets Boost from Bus Driver Invention
The STEFFI Crossing Enhancer, to be worn on the back of a driver’s hand
The STEFFI Crossing Enhancer, to be worn on the back of a driver’s hand, was developed and created by Victoria DeCarlo, a 19-year bus driver who works for Lake Shore Central School District. It comprises a gray reflective arrow on a bright yellow background with an orange border. It also has an elastic finger loop at the top, and there is a wrist strap.
According to DeCarlo, the STEFFI can be worn on a driver’s bare hand, and it will fit under a glove if the driver is wearing gloves before operating the bus. It can also be worn over a glove on either hand, and its colors and reflective arrow are highly visible through the windshield of a school bus, and from a distance. In addition, because the STEFFI is worn on the back of the hand, she said that it does not affect a driver’s ability to operate the bus.
DeCarlo’s idea for the STEFFI stemmed from concerns she had from a stop on her route at Steffi Dr., which intersects with another road. “We pick up students on a main road,” she explained. “The students all walk to a corner, and it was complete chaos because you have cars going in three different directions and the headlights were making it difficult for all to see each other. Students were struggling to see my hand signal indicating that it was safe to cross, and my gut was telling me that something could happen in this area.”
The STEFFI was also well received by transportation supervisors during a recent New York Association for Pupil Transportation event, and DeCarlo said officials at a First Student terminal in the area have expressed interest in getting STEFFIs for their drivers because of the drivers’ positive experience in testing it.
For more information about the product, visit www.steffiproducts.com.
Category: General Update, Safety
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