School bus safety

In October, we celebrate National School Bus Safety Week, so we feel it is the perfect time to remind you about the laws pertaining to school buses. It has come to our attention that some of our students are not abiding by the school bus laws and this needs to be corrected before a tragedy occurs. I know we all want to do our part to keep all school children safe as they board and depart their school buses. While we need to be vigilant in all areas, one area in which we need to be especially mindful is around Central City Park, Franklin Street and Clarke Street, as many schoolchildren in that area ride our Baldwin County school buses.

Here are a few of the basic tips to always remember and heed:

• Be ready to act when you see the red flashing lights on the front and the rear of a school bus. This is your warning that a bus stop is about to take place. Begin to slow down and look for students in the area. Never speed up to beat a school bus. You must be focused and exercise caution any time you are in the vicinity of a school bus stop, as student riders can sometimes be impulsive.
• Abide by the law when a school bus comes to a full stop and you see the flashing red lights activate and the stop arm deploy. Motorists are required to STOP in nearly every instance. The only exception to this rule is when highways are separated in the center by a dirt, grass or concrete median. In this situation, only vehicles following or traveling alongside a school bus in the same direction must stop.
• Be attentive after stopping. You must remain stopped until all loading students are aboard in the morning or all unloading students have cleared 12 feet off the roadway in the afternoon.

• Avoid distractions such as texting or talking on your cell phone. If distracted, you threaten everyone’s safety.  
• Analyze what is happening at and around the bus. Carefully observe student actions, look for stragglers and expect the unexpected.
• Respond appropriately and defensively to the situation. A school bus means children, and children equal unpredictability.

• Proceed with caution only after all students have safely cleared the roadway, the stop arm is canceled and the flashing red lights are deactivated. Obey all traffic laws and speed limits, paying extra attention to the lower speed limits in school zones.
  
   

Abiding by the laws will help us ensure the safety of all students and prevent a tragedy from happening.

If you have any questions, please contact Public Safety as we are happy to help in any way.

GCSU Public Safety Department