NJ TRANSIT CONTINUES ITS SCHOOL SAFETY EDUCATION PROGRAMS
“Special SEAT”, “Protecting Our Pedestrians” and “Safety Rules!” Are Programs Designed for Students Kindergarten Through 12th Grade
September 8, 2023
NEWARK, NJ — As part of its comprehensive Safety Education Program, NJ TRANSIT is kicking off the school year with its three innovative initiatives for students of all ages. Special SEAT (Safety Education Awareness Training) addresses the importance of rail safety for students with special needs. Protecting our Pedestrians (POP) is designed to encourage pedestrian safety for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Safety Rules! promotes general safety around the transit system.
“Teaching children the importance of transit safety is critical to cultivating the next generation of safety-conscious residents,” said New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner and NJ TRANSIT Board Chair Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti. “Through a variety of age-appropriate materials, NJ TRANSIT’S instructors educate our children to stay off railroad tracks and to be aware of buses and light rail vehicles when walking or riding bicycles.”
“The continuing success of the Special SEAT and Protecting Our Pedestrians programs underscores NJ TRANSIT’s unwavering commitment to safety education for students of all ages in New Jersey,” said NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kevin S. Corbett. “Our goal is to foster a culture of safety and vigilance for our customers and employees, as well as those living in the communities we serve.”
Special SEAT
Special SEAT (Safety Education Awareness Training) provides 40-minute training sessions delivered over several weeks as needed and is developed to educate students with special needs. Special SEAT implements a modified version of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to master awareness of transportation safety; with a specific focus on staying alert and being aware of rail and track surroundings.
The program provides:
- An engaging and interactive presentation with puppets, arts and crafts, and natural environment training (NET) play
- Age-appropriate materials and videos
- Safety tips and procedures
- Meets the IDEA and Core standards
Some of the important rules Special SEAT students learn during the program are:
- No trespassing
- Stay alert
- Obey signs and signals
- Cross at designated areas only
- Stand behind the safety line on station platforms
For more information on Special SEAT click here: https://www.njtransit.com/seat
Protecting our Pedestrians
This interactive 45-minute presentation addresses crossing streets and intersections safely, traffic hazards and signals, parking lot safety, and more.
The presentation also includes a discussion on the dangers of the railroad tracks, age-appropriate films, including NJ TRANSIT's video “Sly Fox and Birdie” created by the Operation Lifesaver organization and a question-and-answer session.
For more information on POP click here: https://www.njtransit.com/pop
Both “Special SEAT” and “POP” are free of charge to teachers, para-professionals, guidance counselors and school administrators.
Safety Rules!
Schools are encouraged to request the free SAFETY RULES! presentation to educate students on the need for safe behavior and caution around trains, buses and light rail vehicles. More information is available at njtransit.com/safety.
The presentation includes a discussion on the dangers of the railroad tracks, age-appropriate films, including NJ TRANSIT's video “Sly Fox and Birdie” and a question-and-answer session. The 45-minute presentation is available for free to public, non-profit and charter schools and community groups.
Our Safety Education Specialists teach from a passionate and interactive perspective with a commitment to safety as our #1 priority. If your organization or school is interested in a free NJ TRANSIT safety education presentation, please email us.
NJ TRANSIT Safety Education Program
[email protected] (North Jersey)
[email protected] (South Jersey)
DOWNLOAD the FREE Safety Rules! Activity book by clicking below:
NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing more than 925,000 weekday trips on 253 bus routes, three light rail lines, 12 commuter rail lines and through Access Link paratransit service. It is the third largest transit system in the country with 166 rail stations, 62 light rail stations and more than 19,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.
