Painesville City Local Schools is recognizing National School Bus Safety Week this week. The national theme this year is “#StopOnRed.” This year’s national campaign is a unique reminder for parents, students, teachers, motorists, school bus operators, school administrators, and other interested parties - to join forces and address the importance of school bus safety.
PCLS district transportation staff offers the following tips:
WHAT CHILDREN GETTING ON/OFF THE BUS SHOULD DO:
- Get to the bus stop in plenty of time
- Wait at your driver designated place of safety
- Take 10 giant steps away from the bus when unloading
- Always follow the driver’s directions for how to cross the street
- Be alert to traffic and look both ways
- If you must cross the street, always cross in front of the bus.
We recognize that school bus transportation is a partnership. Students, parents, bus drivers, school staff and motorists all have to work together to keep our children safe.
WHAT PARENTS SHOULD DO:
- Review the safe riding rules with their children, help them to understand why each rule is important
- Help children to be ready at their stop before the bus arrives
- Take turns supervising bus stops for smaller children
- Do not allow children to wear items that may get caught in handrails, in doors, and on seats (drawstrings, dangling straps on book bags, and loose clothing.)
WHAT MOTORIST SHOULD DO:
- Be aware it is illegal in every state to pass a school bus stopped to load/unload students.
- Know and understand laws governing motorist’s driving behavior near a school bus.
- Learn the “flashing signal light system” that school bus drivers use to alert motorists if they are going to stop to load/unload students:
- 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.
- Red flashing lights and extended stop arms indicate that the bus has stopped, and that children are getting on or off. Motorists MUST stop their cars.
- Begin moving only when the red flashing lights are turned off, the stop arm is withdrawn and the bus begins to move.
- Watch out for young people who may be thinking about getting to school, but may not be thinking about getting there safely.
- Slow Down. Watch for children walking in the street, especially if there are no sidewalks in the neighborhood. Watch for children playing and gathering near bus stops.
- Be Alert. Children arriving late for the bus may dart into the street without looking for traffic.
Thank you for entrusting the safety of your children to our transportation department. With your assistance and support, we will continue to provide safe and effective school transportation services for the community.