Spring ISD Marks National School Bus Safety Week Oct. 16-20
National School Bus Safety Week is set for Oct. 16-20. And with more than 14,000 students taking the bus daily in Spring ISD, the Transportation Department is honoring the occasion all week long.
This year’s theme is Safely Rolling to Our Destination. National School Bus Safety Week is a public education program aimed at letting parents, students, teachers, community motorists, school bus operators, school administrators, and other interested parties join forces and address the importance of school bus safety.
“School buses are considered to be the safest form of transportation on the road, and yet we still need everyone involved — drivers, students, parents and motorists — to be aware of bus safety rules,” Director of Transportation Christina Riojas said. “Our drivers and our entire department works tirelessly every day to bring our students to and from school safely, but it takes a village to ensure this happens.”
Spring ISD buses travel around 2 million miles per year, transporting not only students to and from school but also students with special needs, various CTE groups, academic and athletic activities, and many others.
The week is sponsored by the National School Transportation Association, the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services, the National Association for Pupil Transportation, the Pupil Transportation Safety Institute, and school bus manufacturers and suppliers.
The National Association of Pupil Transportation has a list of safety precautions for parents and students, as well as motorists. That list can be found here.
Stay tuned to district social media platforms for more tips throughout the week. Below are a few items to remember throughout the school year.
- Flashing red lights and stop signs mean the bus is stopped and children may be entering or exiting the bus.
- Flashing yellow lights mean the bus is about to make a stop and you should slow down, too.
- If you are traveling the opposite direction of a stopped school bus, you are still required to stop if the road has fewer than four lanes.
- Stay at least 10 feet back from a school bus until the flashing lights are on and it has come to a complete stop.
- Look both ways before crossing the street after getting off the bus. Not all motorists stop for a school bus with flashing lights.
For more information on National School Bus Safety Week, visit napt.org.
Source: Spring ISD
