Fifty-one school bus drivers put their skills to the test this weekend in Red Deer.
Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools hosted the annual Local School Bus Road-eo at École Secondaire Notre Dame High School on Saturday.
"There are 11 different skills competitions that the drivers are driving through," said Kelly Pickett, assistant transportation manager with Red Deer Catholic.
"It's an opportunity for them to showcase their skills and ensure they're doing everything they need to be doing. This competition really encompasses all of those skills."
Some of the skill-testing events included the railroad crossing, diminishing clearance, back-up stall and offset alley.
Competitors represented Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools, Chinook’s Edge School Division, Wolf Creek Public Schools and Prairie Bus Lines. Each station featured a few people within the busing industry judging their skills.
Saturday's Local School Bus Road-eo featured five small school bus competitors and 46 conventional school bus drivers.
"It takes on average about 55.5 hours to train a school bus driver, so they're ready to get on the road and transport students. There's a knowledge portion and, of course, the practical side to it. It's a very encompassing to ensure that drivers are successfully ready to transport our students," said Pickett.
Winners from the Local School Bus Road-eo will advance to the Provincial School Bus Road-eo, which is scheduled for June 8 in Leduc. For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, two winners from the Provincial School Bus Road-eo will head to an international competition in Austin, Texas.
In a media release ahead of the event, Red Deer Catholic's transportation manager Shevon Coram said she was looking forward to watching the drivers demonstrate their abilities behind the wheel.
"The school bus road-eo is an excellent opportunity for our drivers to showcase their skills and dedication to safety. It's a fun and challenging event that highlights the importance of their role in our community," Coram said.