Motorists must heed to school buses, students
Kansas Highway Patrol are reminding drivers to be aware of school children walking to and from bus stops and school.
Troopers have begun the annual bus and school vehicle inspections to assure safe loading, unloading, and transporting of students safely on state roadways.
Troopers will visit each school district and inspect approximately 9,000 school vehicles' mechanical conditions and equipment.
Buses that pass inspection will display green stickers of approval in the corner of their windshields. 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 2003, patrol personnel inspected 8,557 school vehicles.
According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, school buses are the safest means of highway transportation but caution must be used in getting on and off a bus.
The patrol offers the following safety tips for parents, children, and motorists before the school year begins:
Children should:
— Not hurry to get on or off the bus. They should arrive at the bus stop early and wait at least five feet away from the road. Instead of running once off the bus, children need to stop at the bus's edge and look both ways twice for cars before crossing the street.
— Think before stopping. Before a child tries to board a bus, the bus should be stopped, its door fully opened, and the driver should motion the child forward.
— Only walk where the bus driver can see them. Tell children to walk in front of the bus, never behind it or along its sides. If they drop something, they need to tell the driver and wait to make sure the driver understands before trying to pick up the item. The bus driver is less likely to see a child bending down. Also, a child is less likely to drop something in traffic if he/she carries school supplies in a backpack.
— Prevent clothes, shoelaces, book bags, or other items from getting caught in the handrail or door of the bus.
— Obey the driver on the bus while sitting facing forward in the seat. Use an "inside voice" and do not stick anything out windows.
Motorists should:
— Know 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.
— Learn that yellow flashing lights mean the bus will soon stop to load or unload children. Drivers should slow down and prepare to stop. Red flashing lights and extended stop arms mean the bus has stopped and children are getting on or off, so motorists MUST stop their cars. Before pulling forward, motorists should wait until the bus's stop arm is withdrawn, the red flashing lights are off, and the bus begins to move.
— Remember that children may not be thinking about safety. Slow down and watch for children walking in the street or on sidewalks, playing or gathering near bus stops. Be on the alert for children who might dart into traffic. Also, watch for children walking and on bikes when backing out of driveways.
