NJ TRANSIT continues its school safety education programs
NEWARK, NJ — As part of its comprehensive Safety Education Program, NJ TRANSIT is launching the school year with four innovative programs for students of all ages. Special Safety Education Awareness Training (SEAT) addresses the importance of rail safety for students with special needs. Protecting Our Pedestrians (POP) is designed to encourage pedestrian safety for students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Safety Town provides instruction on safety measures in a mobile replica town, and Safety Rules! promotes general safety around the transit system.
“NJ TRANSIT’s Special SEAT and Protecting Our Pedestrians programs reflect our dedication to creating a safer environment for students across New Jersey,” said NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kevin S. Corbett. “By offering tailored safety education to students with special needs and promoting pedestrian safety for all, we are laying the groundwork for a lifetime of safe transit use.”
Special SEAT provides 40-minute training sessions delivered over several weeks as needed and is developed to educate students with special needs. It implements a modified version of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to master awareness of transportation safety, specifically focusing on staying alert and being aware of rail and track surroundings.
The POP program offers an interactive 45-minute presentation that addresses crossing streets and intersections safely, traffic hazards and signals, parking lot safety, and more. It includes discussions on the dangers of railroad tracks, age-appropriate films such as NJ TRANSIT's video “Sly Fox and Birdie” created by Operation Lifesaver organization, followed by a question-and-answer session.
Both “Special SEAT” and “POP” are free of charge to teachers, paraprofessionals, guidance counselors, and school administrators.
Safety Town is a nationally recognized program designed for grades K-12 in collaboration with University Hospital of Newark and other community organizations. It uses a mobile replica town featuring miniature streets, buildings, working traffic lights, child-sized houses, crosswalks, rail tracks & crossings to instruct children about various aspects of safety including bike, rail, pedestrian safety.
Schools are encouraged to request the free SAFETY RULES! presentation to educate students on safe behavior around trains, buses, and light rail vehicles. This 45-minute presentation includes discussions on railroad track dangers alongside age-appropriate films like “Sly Fox and Birdie”, followed by a question-and-answer session.
The Safety Education Program Group also offers transportation-related safety education to adult groups including library groups, community organizations, and parent/teacher groups. Organizations are encouraged to request presentations or participation in events where information provided will help adults make safe decisions guiding children in transportation environments.
NJ TRANSIT’s Safety Education Specialists teach from an interactive perspective with a commitment to making safety their top priority. Interested schools or organizations can email [email protected] or [email protected] for more information about these free presentations.
About NJ TRANSIT: NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing more than 925,000 weekday trips on 263 bus routes, three light rail lines, 12 commuter rail lines through Access Link paratransit service. It ranks as the third largest transit system in the country linking major points in New Jersey, New York City & Philadelphia.
