School Bus Safety and Awareness

{Kentucky}...For some twenty-three million students nationwide, the school day begins and ends with a trip on a school bus. Unfortunately, each year many children are injured and even killed in school bus related crashes.

Last year, Kentucky had 985 school bus related crashes resulting in 278 injuries and four deaths. With school starting in many communities, KSP Spokesman Lt. David Jude is urging motorists to be alert for loading and unloading school buses. Stop, slow down and look for children who may be loading or unloading from the bus" says Jude. Jude says he thinks distracted drivers and those who speed in school zones often put children in more danger than anything else.

"Texting while driving and using a cell phone often take a drivers attention from the road," he says.  "Many times inattentive drivers may not see stops signs, reduced speed limit signs or even the flashing lights of a school bus." KSP is asking all motorists to be extra cautious as schools open this month and especially when maneuvering around school buses.

 Kentucky law states that if any school bus used in the transportation of children is stopped on a highway for the purpose of loading or unloading passengers, with the stop arm and signal lights activated, the operator of a vehicle approaching from any direction must stop and not proceed until the passengers have loaded/unloaded and the bus has been put in motion. Passing a school bus while it is loading or unloading is a class B misdemeanor for the first offense and a class A misdemeanor for the second offense.

KSP encourages parents to review the following schools bus safety rules.

Rules for getting on and off the school bus getting on the school bus
*        When waiting for the bus, stay away from traffic and avoid
roughhousing or other behavior that can lead to carelessness. Do not
stray onto streets, alleys or private property.
*        Line up away from the street or road as the school bus
approaches.
*        Wait until the bus has stopped and the door opens before
stepping onto the roadway.
*        Use the hand rail when stepping onto the bus.
*       
Getting off the school bus
*        If you have to cross the street in front of the bus, walk at
least ten feet ahead of the bus along the side of the road, until you
can turn around and see the driver.
*        Make sure that the driver can see you.
*        Wait for a signal from the driver before beginning to cross.
*        When the driver signals, walk across the road, keeping an eye
out for sudden traffic changes.
*        Do not cross the center line of the road until the driver has
signaled that it is safe for you to begin walking.
*        Stay away from the bus' rear wheels at all times.
*       
Correct way to cross the street
*        Children should always stop at the curb or the edge of the road
and look left, then right, and then left again before crossing.
*        They should continue looking in this manner until they are
safely across.
*        If students' vision is blocked by a parked car or other
obstacle, they should move out to where drivers can see them and they
can see other vehicles -- then stop, and look left-right-left again.
*       
Citizens can contribute to additional child safety by reporting drivers
who disregard school bus signals to the Kentucky State Police toll-free
at 1-800-222-5555.