August 12th, 2019
School Bus Safety
Very soon, we’ll begin to notice that the sun is dipping into the horizon just a little sooner each evening. The first few days of milder weather tend to creep in, reminding that the autumn season draws ever closer. While one could argue that these signs begin to signify the end of summer, nothing reminds us that the summer has drawn to an end quite like the presence of backpack-wearing children at bus stops and large yellow buses packed with (mostly) happy children returning to school.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind when school begins to ensure that our children are safe and secure both at their stops and on the school bus.
- Maintain the speed limit in all designated school zones. Remember that many schools have students who must make a short walk from the bus, or even cross the street, to get to the school’s front door. Following the school zone speed limit ensures that they, and you, can react if necessary.
- Be Alert. For many children getting on or off of a school bus, it’s a time that can be very unnerving. After all, they’re crossing a very busy street by themselves. While school bus drivers do their best to guide students safely across the roadway, we drivers must do our part to make sure everyone is safe.
- Heed the lights and stop sign. The flashing red lights and stop sign that extends from the drivers’ side of the bus are meant for drivers on both sides of an undivided highway. Remember that passing a bus in this manner isn’t only unsafe, it’s illegal, and many buses are equipped with cameras to catch unsafe drivers passing buses while they’re loading/unloading.
- Don’t follow too closely. Just a reminder that school buses stop at railroad crossings to make sure that a train isn’t approaching. Also, it isn’t out of the ordinary for a bus to make over 20 stops on its way to or from the school building. Building in some extra reaction time for yourself by maintaining plenty of space between you and the bus could be the difference between a close call and an accident that endangers your safety and that of those on the bus.
Bordas & Bordas wishes all students, faculty, and staff who will be making the return to school in the coming weeks a very happy, healthy, and safe school year!