School Bus Safety Week Highlights Need to Stop For Buses

The is joining school districts and transporting agencies throughout Ohio and the nation in celebrating the importance of National School Bus Safety Week, Oct. 17-21. Avon Lake School Superintendent said it’s a good time to remind the driving public to be aware and help avoid accidents.

This year’s theme, “Be aware -  know the danger zone,” reminds students to be cautious any time they must cross the street.

"Ensuring the safety of students as they enter and exit the bus is crucial," said Superintendent Bob Scott. “We are training our bus drivers to be cautious, but we need help from parents and community members to make sure they watch for school buses that are stopped to load and unload children. No issue is so urgent that motorists cannot wait for a school bus.”

Avon Lake City Schools will focus on vehicles running red flashing bus lights.

“Students need to cross where they can be seen by the bus driver and also need to watch for traffic,” district representatives said in a press release. “The greatest risk to our children is when they are outside the school bus. Student injuries and fatalities occur as a result of motorists who attempt to pass a stopped school bus with flashing red warning lights while students load or unload.”

Ohio Revised Code 4511.75 requires motorists to stop for a school bus anytime it has stopped to load or unload. In Ohio 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 Ohio are required to file reports with law enforcement when motorists pass them.

Avon Lake School District Transportation Director Sue Cole 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 on 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.

Scott offers the following tips for motorists:

• Buses run the same routes every morning and afternoon. If being stopped behind a bus picking up students creates issues for your travel plans, the best solution is to start your trip earlier or later in order to miss the traffic stoppage.

• Bus drivers cannot move buses until all loading children are sitting in their seats. Depending on the number of children at the bus stop and the age of the children, it may take several minutes to get the students properly seated and the bus moving.