Troopers Offer School Bus Safety Tips

 

The Delaware State Police would like to offer safety guidelines for the start of this new and exciting school year. With the start of school in the next few weeks almost 110,000 of Delaware's precious children will ride a school bus every day.  Delaware's 1,670 school buses travel approximately 12,000 miles each day on our roads. The American School Bus Council reports that even though the school buses travel great distances throughout the school year, buses are the safest means of transportation to and from school.

 

Knowing this, everyone should consistently make safety a high priority for the children walking to and from the school bus stops. The motorists who must share the road with buses while school is in session must take into account any possible delays and be patient throughout the school year.  There are some easy steps children, parents and motorists can do to make this a safe school year for Delaware students.

 

PARENTS

• If your child's bus stop is not near your home, walk the route to the bus stop with your child until they are familiar with it.
• Never let a young child walk to the bus stop without adult supervision.
• Make sure your child knows the bus number and what time the bus is scheduled to arrive.
• Always make sure your child gets to the bus stop early. Children in a rush are less likely to follow safety practices.
• Familiarize yourself with the bus driver.
• Make sure you have the Transportation Director’s contact information just in case you have any questions or encounter a problem.

CHILDREN

• Start your day with plenty of time to get to the bus stop.
• Stay alert as you walk to the bus stop. Always be aware of your surroundings.
• Know your bus driver and bus number.
• Wait for the bus in a safe place.  Avoid horseplay that may cause you to fall into the street.
• Never run to or from the bus.
• When the bus arrives make sure it comes to a complete stop before approaching it.
• Remain seated at all times while the bus is in motion.
• Don't push or shove when getting on or off the bus.
• Always keep your arms and head inside the bus.
• Learn about the "danger zone".  There is a 10-foot wide area on all sides of the bus, where the driver cannot see you.  When you get off the bus, step outside of the danger zone until you can see the driver's face.
• Only cross in front of the bus where the driver can see you.
• Never run behind the bus, or bend down to pick up an object.  The bus driver may think you've crossed safely and start to move.
• Do not distract the bus driver so that he/she may get you safely to and from school.
• Listen to the bus driver and bus aid to ensure your safety.
• Make sure to be courteous and respectful to the school bus driver.

MOTORISTS

• Drivers traveling in either direction on a two-lane road must stop when a school bus activates its flashing red lights and stop sign or arm.
• Drivers traveling in the same direction as a school bus on a four-lane, divided road must stop for a stopped school bus.  Drivers travelling in the opposite direction are not required to stop.
• Delaware law requires vehicles to stop even when the bus is stopped to load/unload students on private property.
• Anyone convicted of passing a stopped school bus can be fined as much as $230 dollars for the first offense, and as much as $575 for the second offense.  The individual will also have their license suspended for between 1 and 12 months.
• Please watch for the little ones crossing the roads and parking lots to and from the bus or private vehicles.
• Please watch your speed at all times especially in school zones. The School Resource Officers and other law enforcement officers will monitor the safety of all who are going to and from the schools.

SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS

• Thank you so much for doing your part to help keep our precious cargo safe and secure! We thank you for your continued professionalism and courtesy while you drive each day with our children…with much gratitude, The Delaware State Police.

 

The Delaware State Police wants you to Be Smart, Be Alert, and Be Safe this School Year!

 

 

An Important Safety Message From Our Partners at the Delaware Department of Education:

 

With the start of the new school year drivers soon may notice a significant increase in the number of buses on the road. School buses are one of the safest forms of transportation on the road, and Delaware drivers can help ensure the safety of our students by paying special attention to school buses. Most of the children who lose their lives in bus-related crashes are pedestrians, many hit by motorists illegally passing stopped buses.

 

In the spring, Delaware public school bus drivers conducted their fifth annual survey of vehicles illegally passing their buses while they were loading/unloading students with their overhead red lights flashing and lighted STOP arms extended. The survey, conducted on May 9, 2015, included 1,249 bus drivers who reported 748 illegal passes, 19 of which were by the right side of the bus.

 

The Delaware Department of Education -- in partnership with the Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security Highway Safety Office, Delaware Department of Transportation and Delaware State Police -- reminds vehicle operators of the state’s “Rules of the Road” to keep our children safe when they are getting on or off a school bus:

 

- Bus drivers will turn on the overhead amber flashing lights to give motorists advance notice that they are preparing to stop to pick up or discharge students.

- Once stopped, the bus drivers activate the overhead red flashing lights and extend their bus STOP arms.

- When a bus is stopped on a two-lane road with the overhead red flashing lights illuminated and STOP arm out, the driver of any vehicle approaching the school bus from the front or the rear of the bus shall stop and remain stopped until the red lights are no longer flashing and the STOP arm is retracted.

- On a roadway with four or more lanes, the driver approaching the bus from the front shall not stop.

- Drivers should stop far enough from the bus to allow students to safely enter and exit the bus.

- Be alert. Children can be unpredictable.