“Special SEAT” and “Protecting Our Pedestrians” Are Programs Designed for Students From Kindergarten Through 12th Grade
As New Jersey schools get back in full swing, NJ TRANSIT is rolling out two initiatives as part of its ongoing Safety Education Program. Special SEAT (Safety Education Awareness Training) addresses the importance of rail safety for students with special needs, specifically those with autism and speech delays. Protecting our Pedestrians (POP) is designed to encourage pedestrian safety for students in kindergarten through 12th grade.
“These programs reinforce NJ TRANSIT’s commitment to safety for both pedestrians and students with special needs,” said New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner and NJ TRANSIT Board Chair Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti. “In its more than 30-year history, NJ TRANSIT’s Safety Education Program has made nearly five thousand presentations, educating tens of thousands of people across New Jersey.”
“Special SEAT and Protecting Our Pedestrians are programs that are an important part of NJ TRANSIT’s overall mission to prioritize safety, including within the communities we serve throughout the state,” said NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kevin S. Corbett. “These best-in-class educational programs raise transit safety awareness for K-12 students, including those with special needs.”
Special SEAT
Special SEAT (Safety Education Awareness Training) is a six-week, 40-minute per session training, 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, natural environment training (NET play)
- Age-appropriate materials and videos
- Safety tips and procedures
- Meets the IDEA and Core standards
- Lifetime mastery of rail safety that leads to independent travel
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 award-winning film “Chicken on the Tracks” and a question-and-answer session. The 45-minute presentation is available for free to public, non-profit and charter schools and community groups.
The NJ TRANSIT Safety Education Program also provides high school driver education. Teachers can request a program package for the classroom developed to help teen motorists safely share the road with trains, buses and light rail. The Driver Education Safety Program teaches teen motorists to use caution near the tracks and the program stresses factors that contribute to train/car collisions. The program aligns with NJ Core Curriculum Content Standards and is comprised of a PowerPoint CD, lesson plan and student reference guide.
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
safetyrules@njtransit.com (North Jersey)
safetymatters@njtransit.com (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.
