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Cleveland Daily Banner—Sunday, July 26, 2015—37
Back to School
Banner photo, HOWARD PIERCE
SCHOOl BuS SAfEty August will mean the start of another school season. Excited youngsters will be boarding buses on their way to respective schools. While buses are eight times safer than passenger vehicles, youngsters must be careful as they board or leave the bus. The Tennessee Department of Safety noted an average of 19 children are killed in the U.S. yearly as they are getting on and off the bus. Most kids are killed in the danger zone around the bus. This is by either a passing vehicle or by the school bus itself. It is against the law for a vehicle to pass a stopped school bus with its red light flashing.
It has been found that most kids one at a time. are hit because they are: n When getting off the bus, look n In a hurry to get on or off the before stepping off the bus to be sure bus; no cars are passing on the shoulder n Act before they think and have (side of the road). Move away from little experience with traffic; the bus. n Assume motorists will see them n Before crossing the street, take and will wait for them to cross the five “giant steps” out from the front of street; the bus, or until the driver's face can n Don’t always stay within the bus be seen. Wait for the driver to signal driver’s sight; or that it's safe to cross. n Drop something as they get off n Look left-right-left when coming the bus and run into the path of a to the edge of the bus to make sure bus or car to pick it up. traffic is stopped. Keep watching traffic when crossing. Here are some safety tips provided by the Department of Safety: Tennessee law requires that: n When getting on the bus, stay n Vehicles must stop before reachaway from the danger zone and wait ing a bus that has its flashing red for the driver's signal. Board the bus warning lights and/or stop signal
A feature of
arm extended. n Vehicles may not pass until the flashing red lights and signals are turned off. n Vehicles traveling in the same or opposite direction as the bus on an undivided road are always required to stop. n Vehicles traveling on a divided, or separated, highway do not have to stop when meeting or passing a bus on the other side of the road. n Drivers never pass on the right side of the bus, where children enter or exit. This is illegal and can have tragic results. Violation of these laws can result in a citation and fine. In many places, school bus drivers can report passing vehicles.