Earn an A+ for School Bus Stop Safety

As a new school year begins across South Kentucky RECC’s service area, familiar yellow school buses are once again making their way along our highways, rural roads and neighborhood streets.

At South Kentucky RECC, safety is an important part of everything we do. That commitment extends beyond electrical safety to the well-being of the members, families and communities we are proud to serve. As students head back to the classroom, we encourage everyone to make school bus safety a priority.

More than 385,000 Kentucky children travel to and from school on a bus each day. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, school buses are the safest mode of transportation for children traveling to school. However, some of the greatest risks occur before students get on the bus and after they get off.

We’ve all seen frightening examples of drivers ignoring a stopped school bus or failing to pay attention around a bus stop. Keeping children safe takes all of us—students, parents, caregivers and motorists.

Before the school year gets into full swing, review these important bus stop safety tips with the students in your family:

• Arrive early. Get to the bus stop a few minutes before the scheduled pickup time. Never run after a bus once it has left the stop.
• Be easy to see. Wear bright, contrasting colors, especially during early morning hours. Adding reflective material to coats and backpacks can make students more visible to drivers.
• Keep a safe distance. Stand at least 6 feet—or about three giant steps—away from the curb while waiting for the bus.
• Watch for traffic. Look both ways before stepping into the roadway, even when the bus has its stop sign extended. Never assume an approaching vehicle will stop.
• Wait until it’s safe. Make sure the bus and surrounding traffic have stopped before entering the road. When crossing in front of a bus, stay at least 12 feet away so the driver can see you.
• Stay away from the wheels. Never walk close to a school bus’s wheels. If something is dropped near the bus, tell the driver and wait for permission before trying to retrieve it.
• Stay alert. Put away phones, games, earbuds and headphones while waiting for or approaching the bus. Seeing and hearing what is happening around you can help you recognize potential dangers.

A Reminder for Drivers

Students aren’t the only ones who need to remember the rules.

Morning and afternoon bus routes mean more stops, more children near roadways and more reasons for motorists to slow down and stay alert. Pay close attention when driving through neighborhoods and along rural roads, watch for children near bus stops and always obey a school bus’s flashing lights and stop arm.

A few extra seconds of patience can make all the difference.

At South Kentucky RECC, we’re proud to power the homes, schools and communities our members call home. We’re also proud to promote a culture of safety throughout the area we serve.

As students begin another year of learning and growing, we wish them a safe and successful school year. Together, we can all earn an A+ for school bus stop safety.

Stay alert. Slow down. Help keep our students safe.