THP Participates in National School Bus Safety Week

 

NASHVILLE --- The Tennessee Department of Safety (TDOS) and the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) are participating in National School Bus Safety Week, October 19 – 23, 2009. This year’s theme, “Avoid Harm, Obey the Stop Arm” reminds all drivers that they are required by law to stop when a school bus’s red-flashing lights are activated. Each day, school buses transport more than 26 million schoolchildren in 480,000 school buses, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). There are approximately 8,900 schools buses in operation in the State of Tennessee.

 

“Our job along with school district personnel across the state is to ensure that children of all ages get to school safe and sound on each and every ride,” stated Safety Commissioner Dave Mitchell. “That’s why we think it is so important to emphasize School Bus Safety Week.”

 

“The most dangerous part of the school bus ride is when children are getting on or off the bus,” said THP Colonel Mike Walker. “Approximately three times as many school bus-related fatalities in this country happen in the “Danger Zone,” when compared to students killed in a school bus crash.” 

 

The “Danger Zone” is the area on all sides of the bus where children are in the most danger of not being seen by the driver:

 

·         Ten feet in front of the bus where the driver may be too high to see a child;

·         Ten feet on either side of the bus where a child may be in the driver’s blind spot;

·         The area behind the bus.

 

In Tennessee and in every state, drivers must stop when the stop arm is extended and red lights are flashing.

Between August 1, 2009, and September 30, 2009, Troopers wrote 988 citations to drivers as part of THP’s Safe Schools Enforcement Campaign. A total of 230 of those drivers were ticketed for speeding in a school zone. In 2008, Troopers issued nearly 5,562 citations in school zones across the state.

 

“Drivers need to know that a school zone isn’t just the 15-mile-per-hour zone around a school. It’s anywhere children travel,” Colonel Walker added. “Our goal is simple. We want to make sure children get to school and back home safely. That’s why Troopers enforce traffic laws, train school bus drivers and inspect buses.”

 

Approximately 12,119 school bus drivers were trained last year by the THP Pupil Transportation Unit. THP also inspected more than 9,000 school buses in 137 school systems statewide. During Fiscal Year 2008-09, approximately 827 buses were placed out of service. Nearly all of the buses placed out of service were re-inspected within 30 days and cleared for safe operation.

 

 Helpful Tips for School Bus Riders:

·         Be alert to traffic. Check both ways for cars before stepping off the bus.

·         Make eye contact with the bus driver, and wait for the bus driver’s signal before crossing the street.

·         Walk in front of the bus; never walk behind the bus to cross the street.

·         Before leaving the sidewalk, look for the flashing red lights.

·         Never go under the bus to retrieve something you’ve dropped.

 

Attached along with this news release are the ABC’s of School Bus Safety for students, parents and motorists.