The St. Joseph School District and Apple Bus Co. are celebrating National School Bus Safety Week Oct. 21-25.
This year’s theme, “Stand Back from the Yellow and Black!” reminds students to stand back at least 10 feet from the bus as it approaches the stop. Students need to give the bus plenty of room to approach and come to a complete stop before they move toward the bus. The greatest bus safety risk to children is when they are outside the school bus.
“Safety is our number one concern,” said Dr. Jake Long, Director of Student Services and Safety for the District. “It is important that students follow the procedures in place.”
Nearly half a million Missouri students ride on school buses each day and over 15,000 bus drivers are dedicated to providing safe transportation for children in the state. National studies show school buses are the safest method for transporting young people—up to 22 times safer than passenger cars.
“Ensuring the safety of students as they enter and exit the bus is crucial, “said Drew Lollar, Safety Director with Apple Bus. “We train our bus drivers to be cautious, but we need help from parents to make sure they watch for school buses stopped to load and unload children. No issue is so urgent that a motorist cannot wait for a school bus.”
Below is a Public Service Announcement being distributed by another school district to remind drivers about school bus safety.
Missouri Revised Code requires motorists to stop for a school bus anytime it has stopped to load or unload. In Missouri, those buses will display red flashing lights, as well as a stop sign on the side of the bus. Motorists may not resume motion until the school bus has resumed motion. Bus drivers in Missouri are required to file reports with law enforcement when motorists pass them.
Drew Lollar, Safety Director offers the following tips to remind your child while getting off and on the bus:
· Always remain in direct eyesight of the bus driver
· Get to the bus stop in plenty of time
· Take 10 giant steps back from the curb while waiting for the bus and 10 steps when exiting the bus
· Never try to get anything left on the bus after exiting
· Never reach underneath the bus
· Always follow the driver’s directions for how to cross the street
· Be alert to traffic and look both ways
· Always cross in front of the bus, but only when the bus driver signals it is safe to do so