South Portland School Department Celebrates
School Bus Safety Week October 20-24, 2008
Established in 1966 by the National Association of Pupil Transportation, the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services, the National School Transportation Association and with support from National Traffic Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) , School Bus Safety Week is focused on the education of students, parents and the general motoring pupic about the safety of transporting children on school buses.
The theme of this year's safety week is:
“AVOID HARM. OBEY THE STOP ARM”
While school bus transportation is the safest form of ground transportation available and eight times safer than traveling to school in a family vehicle, occasional accidents still happen. Fortunately, South Portland School Department has not had a serious school bus accident.
Loading and unloading children are the most dangerous aspects of school bus transportation. Too often motorists fail to heed the warning lights and do not stop for the stopped school bus. By celebrating School Bus Safety Week throughout our school department we have the opportunity to call attention to and to promote a key area of concern with regard to the safety of our children in an effort to prevent future injuries or fatalities.
The American School Bus Council offers the following tips for school bus riders:
- Be alert to traffic. Check both ways for cars before stepping of the bus.
- Make eye contact with the bus driver, and wait for the bus driver’s signal before crossing the street.
- Walk in front of the bus; never walk behind the bus to cross the street.
- While waiting for the bus, stay in a safe place away from the street.
- Before leaving the sidewalk, look for the flashing lights.
- Never go under the bus to retrieve something you’ve dropped
Additionally, school bus drivers are trained to see the students from different viewing angles and to count the number of students at each stop.
The South Portland School Department's Transportation Department invites you to support School Bus Safety Week and safety on school buses throughout the year. Our professional staff appreciates your support and we look forward to transporting students safely throughout the year.
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