Aiken County school buses rolling Aug. 15; stay safe with these school bus safety tips
Aug. 13—With school set to start for Aiken County students on Aug. 15, children will be out waiting for school buses.
To keep kids safe when they are getting on and off a school bus, here are some tips from S.C. Highway Patrol.
First is knowing when to stop for a school bus, since the law varies depending on how many lanes the road has.
"If you are traveling on a two-lane road, everyone is required to stop, whether you are approaching from the front of the bus or from the rear," said S.C. Highway Patrol Trooper Joe Hovis in a video for the agency. "Where people usually get confused is when they see a stopped school bus on a multi-lane roadway. A multi-lane roadway is any roadway with three or more lanes. When you see a stopped school bus on a multi-lane roadway, you only stop for the school bus if you are traveling in the same direction as the bus. All traffic on the opposite side is never required to stop regardless of the type of median."
Drivers always need to stop for a school bus that is loading and unloading passengers. Buses will have red flashing lights going and an extended stop arm out to tell drivers that the bus is loading or unloading children.
Drivers also need to watch for children walking in the streets and playing or gathering near bus stops. Also watch for children who may dart into the street.
According to Highway Patrol, pedestrian fatalities while unloading and loading buses make up for around three times as many bus-related fatalities compared to school bus occupant fatalities.
S.C. Highway Patrol warns of the "danger zone" around buses, which is the loading and unloading zone. To help prevent these fatalities, is it recommended to stand 10 feet away from the curb and to line up away from the street. Students should wait until the bus has stopped, the doors have opened and the driver says it's OK before getting onto the bus.
If a student has to cross the street to get on the bus, they need to walk in front of it at least 10 feet and cross where the bus driver can see them crossing the street. They also need to stop at the edge of the bus and look left, right and left again before crossing. Students should never walk behind the bus. If something is dropped near the bus, tell the bus driver and never bend down to pick it up because the bus driver might not be able to see the person.
When getting off and on the bus, use the handrails to avoid falling and watch out for clothing with drawstrings and bookbags and backpacks with straps in case they get caught in the door.
For parents and guardians, S.C. Highway Patrol recommends they help children practice and learn safety rules when it comes to walking, bicycling or riding in a vehicle. Young children should be supervised as they are walking to school, biking to school, or as they are waiting at the school bus stop.
S.C. Highway Patrol also reminds students they always need to wear a seat belt while in the car and ride in the backseat because it's the safest spot for young people.
If riding a bike, a child needs to always wear their helmet and follow traffic safety rules.
If a student is riding a school bus, they need to practice and learn the safety rules for waiting at a bus top, along with rules for getting on and off the bus, and riding the bus.
When it comes to students walking to school, they need to learn and practice safety rules for pedestrians. S.C. Highway Patrol also said they need to cross at crosswalks and obey all traffic lights and traffic signs.
For more information on school bus safety, visit the S.C. Department of Public Safety website.
