Transportation department issues safety reminder
Tragic accidents involving school children getting struck while loading and unloading from school buses have been all too common in recent weeks, with incidents in Indiana, Mississippi, Florida and Pennsylvania resulting in at least five deaths and multiple injuries.
In virtually each of those incidents, the primary culprit has been drivers failing too heed the flashing lights and stop sign mounted to the side of school buses.
In honor of the lives so tragically lost, the Wills Point ISD Transportation Department announced that its buses would adorned with black and white ribbons Nov. 7. Additionally, the department stressed the need for drivers to be aware of and follow the rules of the road when operating a vehicle near school buses.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, "The greatest risk to a child is not riding a bus, but approaching or leaving one."
Information for drivers on the NHTSA website includes:
-When backing out of a driveway or leaving a garage, watch out for children walking or bicycling to school.
-When driving in neighborhoods with school zones, watch out for young people who may be thinking about getting to school, but may not be thinking of getting there safely.
-Slow down. Watch for children walking in the street, especially if there are no sidewalks in neighborhood.
-Watch for children playing and congregating near bus stops.
-Be alert. Children arriving late for the bus may dart into the street without looking for traffic.
-Learn and obey the school bus laws in your State, as well as the "flashing signal light system" that school bus drivers use to alert motorists of pending actions: 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 the bus has stopped and children are getting on or off. Motorists must stop their cars and wait until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop-arm is withdrawn, and the bus begins moving before they can start driving again.
