How to Organize a Transportation Safety Meeting

A transportation safety meeting is a great way to bring awareness to a transportation issue in your community and gain support from your peers. Below are the steps to organizing a meeting and using your meeting to gain support from school administration and elected officials.

1) Identify the problem 

What issue is most pressing for you and your fellow students? 

Maybe it is the pick up/drop off line, maybe you have to cross a very busy road to get to school, or maybe drivers are speeding or driving aggressively outside your school. Seek out feedback from your fellow students through school community meetings

2) Identify a school leader that can help advocate 

• Describe the transportation safety issue to the school leader

• Ask them for their support in holding a transportation safety meeting 

• Ask them to offer community service hours to students who attend the meeting, 1-2 hours depending on the length of the meeting

3) Organize a meeting 

Pick a time during the school day when as many students can attend as possible. Preferably, try to organize an assembly or meeting during a school government meeting, or club 

4) Invite students and teachers to attend the meeting 

• Create a flyer to attract student interest in the meeting 

• Clearly articulate the logistics (when, where) of the meeting on the flyer 

• Advertise how many hours of community service a student would receive for attending the meeting 

• Explain the goal of the meeting 

5) Hold the meeting 

• Create a petition for students to sign after the meeting

• Describe the issue clearly 

• Describe possible solutions 

• Ask students to think of possible solutions to the issues you all face

• Ask your fellow students to sign petitions for possible solutions 

6) Gather the data

• Organize the petition into a slideshow to report the findings to school administration

• Include possible solutions to the problems in your slideshow

• Understand what school administration can and cannot fix when reporting on the issues 

7) Organize a meeting with administration 

• Ask to meet with your school principal 

• Explain the issues using your slideshow as a visual 

• Ask your principal to sign the petition you created 

• Ask your principal to share the petition with your school board member 

8) Organize a meeting with your school board member

• Email your school board member, and clearly articulate the transportation issue your school is facing 

• Use data- explain how many students are in favor of addressing the issue, and potential solutions to the issue

• Ask to present the issue at the next school board meeting