Refresher course on school bus safety

AMHERST, N.Y. (WIVB) - Before your child grabs their book bag and heads out the door, News 4 has got a little refresher course on school bus safety.

Sweet Home Transportation Superintendent Bob Weselak said, "We're just asking the public to show some patience for the school buses."

Be prepared for your morning commute to go a little slower this week, as thousands of buses are back on the roads. Weselak says parents also need to be prepared to roll with the punches.

"The buses will be running a little bit slower because the routes are all new to the drivers. The earlier they get the child out to wait for the bus, the better it is for everyone to make the whole operation run a lot smoother," Weselak said.

There are safety tips the little ones should know as they climb up the steps of that big scary bus.

Weselak said, "The drivers will instruct them about the safety points when they get on the bus. We need them to stay back from the bus when the bus pulls up to the stop. We'd like them to dress in bright clothing if they could."

Other drivers on the road should remember, yellow lights mean the bus is slowing down, red means it's stopped. And when the stop sign is out, drivers cannot pass the bus from any direction. If they do, they could be cited for a moving violation.

Would a driver take down a license plate or try to report the vehicle?

Weselak said, "Absolutely. We have a DMV form. We send in license plates. We report them to the state."

Bus drivers expect kids to be rambunctious on the bus, it's the unexpected from other drivers that cause the biggest concern.

Weselak said, "Driver distraction is a huge problem for us. My drivers have to deal with people using cell phones, texting is a huge problem now in our area. My drivers are taught to drive defensively. Most of my drivers are always looking out for the other drivers making mistakes."

A little observation and patience can go a long way to getting the school year off to a safe start.

AAA is offering these key tips for motorists:

- Follow the speed limit. School zone speed limits are set low on purpose. Children are unpredictable and may have difficulty gauging the distance and speed of an approaching car.

- Come to a complete stop at intersections with stop signs. Research shows that more than one third of drivers roll through stop signs in school zones or residential neighborhoods.

- Always stop for school busses. Driving around stopped school busses is dangerous and against the law.

- Scan between parked cars. Children can quickly dart out between parked cars or other objects along the roadway. Motorists should pay close attention not only at intersections, but along any residential roadways where children could be present.

- Eliminate distractions. AAA research shows that taking your eyes off the road for two seconds doubles your chances of crashing. Putting down your cell phone makes you a safer driver and sets a good example for young passengers and pedestrians.

- Plan ahead. Leave early for your destination and build in extra time in case of congestion. If possible, modify your route to avoid school zones and traffic.

- Look for AAA School Safety Patrollers. With more than half a million AAA School Safety Patrollers at 30,000 schools across the country, they’re a sure sign you’re approaching a school zone. Also, keep an eye out for crossing guards, bicycles and playgrounds as they’re tell-tale signs children are present.