Bellefontaine City Schools Transportation Supervisor Tammie Garman is offering tips during National School Bus Safety Week.
This year’s theme is BEEP, BEEP – School Bus Safety Starts with Me.
Garman said, “A unique reminder to motorists and students about the dangers that exist outside the school bus. Studies show that children are often injured approaching or leaving the bus.
“As bus drivers are reminding students of their place of safety daily, still some (parents and students) are refusing to follow the law. Students are and will continue to lose their riding privileges if they continue to refuse. We don’t wish to become a statistic where we have a student injured or even killed for not following the law we are trying to enforce.
“With the help of parents and the community, we can continue to deliver all children safe and unharmed.
“On-the-bus behavior continues to be a big distraction to our drivers. We implore parents to please talk to their kids about how to act on the school bus and to remember that riding a bus is a privilege.
“In a time where we have so many distractions, we plead with you to stay alert during the times students are being picked up and dropped off. By law bus drivers must activate their warning lights 300 feet prior to a bus stop where children are standing, thus giving all ample time to slow for the stop. Try to think that on that bus sits your child or grandchild and your hope is that they are always safe and out of harm’s way.
“Together we can all make a difference. Thank you from your BCS bus drivers.”
Benjamin Logan Schools will recognize National School Bus Safety Week, “BEEP! BEEP! School bus safety starts with me” The theme of the 2023 National School Bus Safety Week is a unique reminder to motorists and students about the dangers that exist outside the school bus.
The theme of National School Bus Safety Week is derived from the Poster Contest the year before.
The big yellow school bus has become the epitome of education in our country.
Often, we take for granted the benefit of this service, even while school and transportation staff continue to focus on maximizing safety and efficiency.
Without this service for children and families to access safe transportation education equality would be difficult to achieve.
More than 800,000 Ohio students ride on school buses each day, and nearly 15,000 bus drivers, mechanics, secretaries, and supervisors statewide are dedicated to providing safe transportation for Ohio children.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tells us that students are about 70 times more likely to get to school safely when taking a school bus instead of traveling by car.
This year’s national campaign is focused on reminding us that safety is the first priority for our children.
Ohio law requires motorists to stop clear of the school bus until the bus driver cancels the red lights and the bus begins to move.
“Ensuring the safety of our students is crucial,” is the message from both Superintendent, John Scheu and Transportation Director, Brenda Fahle, “We train our drivers to be cautious, but we need help from parents to make sure children remain alert and mindful of good safety practices.”
Benjamin Logan is the 16th largest district by square mileage in Ohio covering 220 square miles.
More than 900 students ride one of the twenty-five Benjamin Logan bus routes.
The total daily miles driven is 1,846.
The Benjamin Logan transportation department offers the following tips to remind your child while getting on and off the bus:
- Get to the bus stop early and wait at your designated place of safety.
- Approach and enter the bus after the driver signals.
- 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.
Indian Lake bus drivers reviewed bus safety rules and procedures with students before getting off the bus at school recently.
They practiced how to open the emergency doors and windows, how to evacuate the bus from the side and rear exits, and how to help others safely exit as well.
The older students enjoyed helping the younger kids hop out of the back entrance.
Earlier this month, Indian Lake bus drivers reminded elementary students how to safely board the bus, ride the bus, exit the bus and, if necessary, cross the street in a special session just for ILES kids.
They also reviewed expected bus behaviors so that every student can be in the Laker Zone on the bus.
