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South Lewis CSD Reminds Drivers of Importance of
School Bus Stop Safety During National School Bus Safety Week
Published: October 17, 2022
at 11:30 a.m.
By: Press Release from South Lewis CSD Transportation
Department
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, October 17, 2022
(Turin, NY)-
There is no better investment in the future of our country than in the
safety of our nation’s children. As adults, this responsibility rests on
our shoulders. As drivers, this responsibility
increases exponentially.
The school bus is
one of the safest modes of transportation. Unfortunately, more injuries and
fatalities occur outside of the school bus because a vehicle driver failed
to obey the stop-arm warning or failed to follow local traffic laws. From
2011 to 2020 there were 1,009 fatal school-transportation crashes
nationwide. Of those crashes, 1,125 people of all ages were killed, a national
average of 113 fatalities per year. The national average of fatalities
remains at far too
high of a level.
School buses in
New York State (NYS) are amongst the safest in the nation. NYS school bus
drivers all receive extensive testing and training to ensure their skills
are well beyond par. School buses in NYS are specified to be built
much stronger than a traditional vehicle and are rigorously inspected once
every six months by the NYS Department of Transportation. While NYS carries
one of the safest records for school transportation, vehicle drivers of the
general motoring public must assist to ensure safety for all.
In support of National
School Bus Safety Week, October 17-21, 2022, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA) is working with the
South Lewis Central School District Transportation Department to remind
vehicle drivers about the importance of school bus stop safety. In every
State, it is illegal to pass a school bus while the school bus stop-arm is extended and the red lights are flashing. Drivers
should always come to a complete stop when these signals are employed.
Understanding the
“Danger Zone”
The school bus
loading and unloading area is called the “Danger Zone.” Specifically,
this is any side of the bus where a child may not be seen by the bus driver
and, therefore, is in the most danger. These areas include:
·
10 feet in front of the bus, where the view of a
child may be blocked by the engine bay.
·
10 feet on either side of the bus, where a child may
be in the bus driver’s blind spots.
·
Any location behind the school bus.
Safety Reminders
and Tips for Drivers
Mistakes made
behind the wheel can mean the difference between life, death, or severe
injury. General rule of thumb: slow down and obey the traffic signs. If a
school bus is present, expect to see a child and be prepared to stop.
Follow these safety reminders and tips to keep school children safe at the
bus stop:
·
Yellow flashing lights indicate the bus is
preparing to stop to load or unload children.
·
Motorists should slow down and prepare to stop their
vehicles.
·
Motorists may begin moving only when the red
flashing lights have turned off, the stop-arm has closed, and the bus
begins to move.
·
Never pass on the right side of the bus, where
children enter or exit. This is illegal and can have tragic results.
·
Slow Down. Watch for children walking in the street,
especially if there are no sidewalks in the area. Watch for children
playing and gathering near bus stops.
·
Don’t drive distracted. Be Alert. Children arriving
or departing the bus may dart into the street without stopping to look for
traffic.
·
Watch for young people who may be distracted and not
paying attention to the traffic around them.
Safety Tips for
Parents and Caregivers
Parents and
caregivers rely on drivers to follow the law, but it’s also important to
teach your child to practice safe bus stop behaviors. These safety tips
will help them stay safe around the school bus:
·
Stand at least 5 giant steps (no less than 10 feet)
away from the edge of the road.
·
Wait until the bus stops, the door opens, and the
driver says it’s okay before stepping onto the bus.
·
Be sure the bus driver can always see you, and you
can see the bus driver.
·
Before crossing the street, make sure you wait until
the bus driver gives you the crossing signal.
·
Walk in front of the bus; never walk behind the bus.
·
Be careful that clothing with drawstrings and book
bags with straps or dangling objects do not get caught in the handrail or
door when exiting the bus.
·
Drivers are instructed to only use their horn when
the bus is backing up; or danger. If the driver
honks the horn while you are crossing, immediately return to where you
started.
All children
receive these instructions from their bus driver during their school bus
safety drills. It is very important that these instructions stay fresh in
their memory to avoid a potentially catastrophic incident.
Together, we can
work to keep our children safe as they wait to ride the bus to and from
school. Slow down and always be alert. For more information about school
bus safety, please visit our website: https://www.southlewis.org/transportation--167 -or- the NHTSA
website at:
www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/school-bus-safety#the-topic-bus-stop-safety.
NATIONAL SCHOOL BUS SAFETY WEEK
October 17-21, 2022
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