National school Bus Safety Week is October 18-22, 2021. As CRR educators it’s a perfect time to send messaging out that ensures the school buses make it to their designation safely each day.
Here are some messaging tips:
- When drivers see a school bus on the road, they should always give them plenty of room, knowing they stop frequently.
- Drivers should be careful around railroad crossings. School buses are legally required to stop at them.
- Drivers should reduce their speed when they see a school bus and know children may unexpectedly step into the road without checking for traffic.
- Drivers also need to watch for children. While children should be alert, it is also up to drivers to pay attention, as students may be distracted, looking at mobile devices, talking to friends or not looking at the traffic.
- Drivers must stop if a bus has flashing lights and its stop sign out, regardless of which way a bus is headed. Drivers are allowed to continue once the bus is in motion, the flashing lights have stopped or the driver signals you to proceed. Approaching drivers do NOT have to stop for a school bus that is operating a visual signal if the road is separated by a physical barrier or intervening space, such as a divided median. If the highway is only divided by a left-turn lane, it is not considered divided and drivers must stop for school buses.
- It is illegal to pass a stopped school bus. The results very by State, but could result in fines or points on your driver’s licenses. Criminal charges are possible if a driver causes someone serious bodily injury.
Find More Information At:
National Association of Pupil Transportation (NAPT)
National School Bus Safety Week (2021 Poster)
Texas Department of Public Safety
National Safety Council (NSC)
