NEWS RELEASE: July 14, 2008
FROM: The Kansas Highway Patrol
CONTACT: Technical Trooper Edna Buttler (785) 296-6800
Troopers Inspect School Buses for Safety
With the first day of school quickly approaching, Kansas Highway Patrol troopers are assisting school districts throughout the state in assuring that students arrive to and from their destinations safely. Troopers are inspecting school buses from now until the beginning of the school session to make sure the vehicles will load, transport, and unload students safely. Buses and other vehicles throughout the state are also inspected for compliance with safety regulations.
Nearly 9,000 school vehicles' equipment and mechanical conditions will be checked as troopers visit each school district. A bus that passes the inspection will display a blue sticker of approval in the corner of the windshield. Buses that do not comply with safety regulations cannot be used to transport students until all defects are corrected and a trooper rechecks the vehicle. In 2008, 9,526 buses were checked by the Kansas Highway Patrol for defects.
"While ensuring the safe mechanical operations of buses, back-to-school safety is about so much more. Motorists need to remind themselves to look out for the children going to and from school. It's easy for children to get caught up in their thoughts and excitement from the day, and it's our responsibility to look out for them," Patrol Superintendent Colonel Terry Maple said. "As parents, we have another duty, and that is sharing safety information with our children. They need occasional reminders on safety around buses, including the proper way to get on and off a bus, and watching for traffic. It would be beneficial to discuss school bus safety with them throughout the year."
Tips for Children
- Do not hurry to get on or off the bus. Get to the bus stop at least five minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive.
- When the bus approaches, stand at least five giant steps away from the roadside, and line up away from the street.
- Wait until the bus stops, the door opens, and the driver says it is OK before stepping onto the bus. Use the handrails to avoid falls. Be careful that clothes, shoelaces, book bags, or other items are secure and do not get caught on the handrail or door of the bus.
- If you have to cross the street in front of the bus, walk on the sidewalk or along the side of the road at least five giant steps (10 feet) ahead of the bus before you cross in front of it. Be sure the driver can see you, and you can see the driver. Never walk behind the bus, and walk at least three giant steps away from the side of the bus.
- Children should stop at the bus's edge and look both ways twice for oncoming traffic before crossing the street. Kids must learn the importance of watching for traffic before getting off the bus and before crossing the street, because drivers may not see them.
- If you drop something, tell the driver, then wait to make sure the driver understands before you try to pick it up. The driver may not see a child bending down. In addition, a child is less likely to drop something in traffic if he or she carries school supplies in a backpack.
- Obey the bus driver, sit facing forward in the seat, use an inside-voice, and do not stick anything out the windows.
Tips for Drivers
- When backing out of a driveway or leaving a garage, watch out for children walking or riding a bicycle 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 about getting there safely.
- Slow down. Watch for children congregating near bus stops.
- Be alert. Children arriving late for the bus may dart into the street without looking for traffic. Know that it is illegal to pass a school bus stopped to load or unload students. In Kansas, the fine for this potentially deadly violation is $300 plus court costs.
- If you see a bus ahead, slow down in preparation for its possible stop. It's easy to misjudge the speed at which you can overtake a bus, and they make frequent stops. If you slow sooner, you will be better prepared to stop.
- Learn the flashing signal light system that school bus drivers use to alert motorists of pending actions. Never pass a bus when flashing lights are displayed.
- Yellow flashing lights indicate the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. Motorists should slow down and prepare to stop.
- Red flashing lights and an extended stop arm indicate the bus is stopped and children are getting on or off. Motorists must stop and wait until the red lights stop flashing, the extended sign is withdrawn, and the bus begins moving before starting to drive again.