HARRISBURG, Pa. – In recognition of National School Bus Safety Week from October 19 to 23, PennDOT is reminding residents that school bus safety is the responsibility of students and drivers alike.
“School bus drivers have the important job of transporting our children to school and home 180 days a year, but they aren’t the only ones responsible for making sure that happens safely,” said PennDOT Engineering District 1 Executive Bill Petit. “Drivers, students, parents, teachers, the public – we all have a role in school bus safety.”
In Pennsylvania, there are more than 45,000 school bus drivers and more than 31,000 registered school buses. During the 2013-14 school year, more 1.5 million students were transported to school by buses that traveled more than 393 million miles.
Motorists are reminded that they must stop at least 10 feet away from school buses that have their red lights flashing and stop arm extended. This includes drivers traveling behind or alongside the bus, any oncoming traffic meeting the bus, or drivers approaching an intersection where a bus is stopped.
Parents and students should remember to follow safety guidelines as well, waiting for traffic to stop before crossing the street, walking at least 10 feet in front of the bus, and never running after the bus. Students are also advised to talk quietly on the bus, obey the directions of the driver, and keep aisles and emergency exits free of bags and equipment.
Additional safety tips are available online at www.JustDrivePA.org.
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