National statistics indicate that school buses are the safest mode of transportation, which is very comforting and reassuring considering school buses transport America’s most precious resource... children.
Yet there are many people who fail to comply to school bus safety both inside and outside of the bus.
On average, a school bus is inspected at least three times a year, twice by a certified mechanic and once by the PA State Police.
An inspection sticker will not be placed on the window of a bus unless it is, without a doubt, deemed safe. Once it passes inspection, the bus can now legally provide transportation for students to and from the school.
There are five separate bus companies that provide transportation for the North Pocono School District. They are NP Bus Co., Pocono Transportation, Stouts Bussing, HAMM Transit and Mar-Chet Transit.
Paul Widdall, owner of NP Bus Co. said, “It’s not about competition between these companies, it’s about cooperation. We all work together so it really comes down to teamwork.”
But teamwork doesn’t only consist of the drivers and the children riding the bus. A sense of teamwork is needed from the school, transportation department, administrators, teachers, parents/guardians, students, drivers, mechanics, contractors, manufacturers, state and local police, magistrates, media and state and federal officials. Cooperation from all parties involved is essential in order to provide the safest conditions possible.
From the driver’s perspective, their main concern is “safety first.”
Aaron Sepkowski of Pocono Transportation said, “To be safe you have to uphold the rules of the bus. With upholding the rules you have to have the backing and consequences to those rules.”
For example, once a child boards the bus, he/she should walk directly to their assigned seat. Children are designated certain seats in case a bus is ever involved in an accident. That way, when the police arrive on scene they can look at the assigned seat list to determine where each child is supposed to be seated... which is another safety measure.
Once inside the bus, the student should remain seated.
Don’t stand up, don’t turn around, don’t walk up and down the aisles, don’t throw things, and no eating or drinking.
Although school buses are not equipped with seatbelts for students riding the bus, the seat itself is a crash compartment, Widdall said.
The seats are specifically designed to protect the child during impact, making it that much more important for the child’s safety to remain seated at all times. When a school bus is on the road, whether in the morning or afternoon, it is extremely important for other drivers to be vigilant and mindful of the rules of the road.
For example, bus drivers are operating a very large vehicle with upwards to 77-84 kids aboard, with their backs to them while driving. This is a huge responsibility that demands full concentration. If other motorists do not adhere to traffic laws relating to school buses, it begins to create distractions, resulting in added pressure for the driver.
If you are a morning driver, please remain patient when driving behind a school bus. In this situation the first thing most motorists think is “I’m going to be late! I need to get around this bus!”
But the bus driver must wait at each stop until each child is seated, for their safety. It does take time for a school bus to stop, open its door, and pick up the kids before the door is closing and the bus is safely moving to the next stop.
Barring inclement weather, school buses arrive at their assigned stops around the same time each day.
So if you are a morning motorist who keeps getting stuck behind a bus, rather than becoming annoyed and impatient, think about leaving the house either five minutes earlier or five minutes later.
Also, motorists should be aware that while driving on undivided four-lane highways, such as Rt. 435 and/or Rt. 307, cars are required by law to stop in all lanes, when the red flashing lights are activated.
When you see the amber lights flashing, slow down! When the red lights are activated, stop! Most school bus injuries and fatalities occur outside the bus, at the bus stop.
When children are waiting at their assigned stop, motorists and students alike, are required to be at least 10 feet away from where the bus stops so you are visible. Never run to or from the bus.
If your child misses the bus, never pull behind it and have your child try to run up along side of the bus to board. This is known as “backloading” and is extremely dangerous! In this case it is far safer to just drive them to school.
The North Pocono School District — like others in Wayne and Lackawanna counties — has a policy that students are only allowed to get on and off the bus at their designated stops.
Students are required to arrive at their stop at least five minutes early and should refrain from hitting, shoving or in the wintertime, throwing snowballs. Also wait for the bus to stop completely before approaching it as it may strike a slippery patch of ice.
Motorists should also be more cautious during the winter months, while allowing for extra distance between their car and the bus. These days everyone is in too much of a hurry, but if you just take a minute and imagine that your child is riding the bus, you might just be a little more mindful the next time you find yourself stuck behind one.
It comes down to accountability. If your child gets written up, most of the time it’s not for disciplinary actions but rather for safety measures to make sure the same mistake does not happen again.
As a parent, instead of being naive and placing the blame elsewhere, have your child admit their mistake and assume responsibility. These days too many parents are ready to say, “No, my little so and so would never do that!” But back in the day if your parents were told you did something — guess what, you did it!
