WESTSIDE -- With the first day of school coming up next Monday, superintendents and transportations directors for school districts in Gravette, Decatur and Gentry are sharing information about school bus safety with patrons in their districts.
A school bus safety awareness campaign, with the theme B.U.S. (Be Aware. U Stay Alert. So Kids Don't Get Hurt) Awareness, is being sponsored by the Arkansas Department of Education, Arkansas Association for Pupil Transportation and concerned parents, educators and citizens across the state.
"Getting ready to go back to school is always an exciting time for Arkansas students and their families," said Deborah Coffman, chief of staff for the Arkansas Department of Education. "While academic achievement is always a top priority, it is just as important to be mindful of student safety in and around school buses."
The public awareness campaign began Aug. 11 and will conclude Aug. 29. During that time, educators and concerned parents and citizens across the state are reminding Arkansas motorists to obey all traffic laws whenever they are near a school bus. Remember, it is illegal to pass a stopped school bus whenever its red lights are flashing and students are getting on or off the bus.
The fines, penalties and punishment for anyone found guilty of illegally passing a stopped school bus were dramatically increased by Arkansas Act 2128 of 2005, also known as Isaac's Law. The legislation was named for Isaac Brian, an elementary school student in the Bryant School District who was struck and killed when a driver illegally passed his school bus while students were getting off the bus.
The ADE website provides further information, including the fact that a bus driver, on average, will only wait 180 seconds for students to get on a bus each morning or unload each afternoon. This is a very short amount of time but it is enough time for a tragedy to occur.
Parents can help by talking with their children about safety rules for traveling to and from the bus stop, getting on and off the bus and riding the bus. Motorists can also help by paying special attention to safe driving rules and obeying all traffic laws.
This campaign also serves as an excellent time to teach and reiterate to students and parents simple measures they can take while going to and from the bus stop, getting on and off the bus and riding in the bus. It also gives us a chance to thank and honor the professional school bus drivers who devote themselves to transporting our most precious cargo.
In Arkansas, a fleet of nearly 6,000 school buses transport more than a quarter of a million students to and from school and school-related activities each school day. In Gentry, nearly 800 students ride school buses each school day.
General News on 08/13/2014