Back-to-School Bus Safety and Driver Awareness
As children across Dutchess County return to school this week, Dutchess County Sheriff Adrian “Butch” Anderson and County Executive Marc Molinaro join with the Dutchess County Traffic Safety Board to remind motorists, parents and students to follow the rules for school bus safety and exercise caution on the road. Motorists are encouraged to drive carefully and use caution, especially during the school year, when students are boarding and disembarking school buses.
Sheriff Anderson said, “Please drive cautiously and follow the law while driving on our roadways to ensure our children are safe traveling to and from school. Motorists’ actions can greatly affect the safety of our young students, so we ask everyone to do what they can to make sure this is a happy and safe school year.”
County Executive Molinaro said, “Throughout Dutchess County, thousands of children will step on a school bus for the first time this week. I sincerely ask drivers to obey traffic safety laws, be courteous to pedestrians and fellow motorists, and do their part so our young students arrive at school safely.”
Motorists are asked to pay close attention and remember the following:
- The Sheriff’s Office has a strict zero tolerance for those stopped for passing a stopped school bus, and those stopped for it will be ticketed.
- Passing a stopped school bus is a serious offense in New York State, and the penalties are severe.
- When the lights on the bus are yellow, it means that the bus is about to stop. In this situation drivers are advised to slow down and prepare to stop for the bus; do not try to get past the bus before it stops.
- Be aware that in some cases children may be standing near the edge of the roadway waiting for the bus; drive slowly and use extra caution in these areas.
- When backing out of a driveway or leaving a garage, watch out for children walking or riding a bicycle to school.
- Be alert that children arriving late for the bus may dart into the street without looking for traffic.
Students should pay special attention to school bus safety in and around school zones, and near bus stops. School children and parents should take notice of the following bus safety tips:
- Children should get to the bus stop at least five minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive, to avoid rushing.
- When waiting for the school bus, children should wait at the bus stop, and stand back five giant steps from the curb.
- Children need to avoid returning to the bus for any items left behind.
- Remind children to never bend down near the bus.
- If a child needs to cross the street in front of the bus, he/she should make contact with the driver and wait for the signal that it is safe to cross in front of the bus. Children should always look both ways before crossing the street.
- Behind the bus is the “danger zone.” Remind children to never go behind the bus where the driver can’t see.
“The start of the school year gives us all a chance to familiarize ourselves with the rules of school bus safety,” County Executive Molinaro said. “Please schedule additional time for your morning and afternoon commutes to give our children a safe ride to and from school. Our children’s safety is our top priority. By observing the law and being courteous on the roads, we can all help them have a rewarding and safe school year.”
More information on bus safety rules can be viewed online here.