School is in session and motorists on Pennsylvania roads are prepared to safely share the road with school buses over the next school year.  

Typically, a school bus driver transports 54 students in a large bus. There are over 31,000 school buses in Pennsylvania. PennDOT school bus statistics for the 2010 school year indicate there were 43,446 licensed school bus drivers who transported 1,539,598 students daily, and drove over 401,173,000 miles.  

PennDOT Secretary, Barry J. Schoch, P.E., stated recently that, "Children can be distracted by the excitement of returning to school and reuniting with their classmates. Parents and students need to talk about being safe while traveling to and from school." Recommendations and tips to parents, students and motorists are listed below:

Parents need to discuss the following tips with students:

• Get to the bus stop five minutes early to avoid having to run to catch the bus.
• If crossing the street to board the school bus, be sure to look LEFT—RIGHT—LEFT to see that all cars have stopped.
• Avoid the "School Bus Danger Zone" by staying at least ten (10) wide steps away from the bus on all sides so the bus driver can see you.
• If you drop something near or under the bus, tell the driver.
• When getting on and off the bus, secure drawstrings on coats and other loose items so they cannot get caught in the handrail or door.
• Remain seated at all times, with back straight against the seat and feet in front of you, and wait for the bus to fully stop before standing up to exit.
• To prevent distraction while walking near traffic, students who walk to school should avoid using cell phones or wearing headphones.  

Motorists need to be patient and obey school bus laws:

• Pay attention to students as they board and exit buses, and obey traffic laws regarding school buses and school zones. There are stiff penalties for violating Pennsylvania's school bus stopping law, including a $250 fine, five (5) points on your driving record, AND a 60-day license suspension.
• When approaching a school bus with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended, you must stop at least ten (10) feet from the bus, according to Pennsylvania law. Vehicles approaching in all directions are required to stop. However, drivers who encounter a school bus stopping on the opposite side of a divided highway are not required to stop. A divided highway is one in which the lanes are clearly separated by a divider, such as concrete barriers or grass medians.
• Use caution when driving in school zones. Schools are hubs of pedestrian and vehicle traffic. Slow down to the posted speed limit of 15 miles per hour in school zones.

For more tips, visit the PennDOT highway safety website at www.drivesafePA.org (home/traffic safety information center/school bus safety).
 

This information is distributed by Erie County Department of Health, 606 W. 2nd Street, Erie, PA 16507, 814-451-6700, www.ecdh.org.

Geof Crankshaw, Coordinator
Northwest Regional Highway Safety Network
Erie County Department of Health