In less than two weeks, many Georgia students head back to school. It will be the first time many parents put their children on a school bus or let their children walk to a bus stop. Please take the time to discuss school bus safety with your children.
According to the Georgia Department of Education, fatalities and serious injuries continue to occur at school bus stops, caused by "a variety of circumstances and errors on the part of the student, the school bus driver and the passing motorist". In the 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 school years Georgia experienced a total of 11 student school bus stop fatalities, several serious injuries and numerous near misses when students were getting on and off the school bus. These tragic events point out the need to look at ways to reduce the possibility of similar tragedies ever happening again.
Important behaviors when loading and unloading at the bus stop: (From the GA Dept. of Education)
- Arrive 5 minutes before bus is scheduled
- Go back home for help if you miss bus, never walk to another stop and —never have parents drive to another stop (—Bus driver will not know)
- Have all items in book bag before leaving home so you do not drop anything
- Wait in safe place, 12 feet away from traffic
- Do not cross before bus comes
- Look before exiting the bus