As we have completed the first five days of school this is a good time to offer some advice and recommendations regarding student travel to and from school. School days bring travel congestion on the highways and in our communities: school buses are picking up their students, kids on bikes are hurrying to get to school or home at the end of the day, and parents are trying to drop their children off before work. It's never more important for drivers to slow down and pay attention than when young people are present – especially before and after school.
Here are some important reminders if you are driving to and from school at Benton Community:
1. Your full attention is needed focused on the roadway! Silence your cell phone and keep it out of your hands. There is nothing that important that can't wait until you are to school or back home at the end of the day. We need to do a much better job in this area based on observations from many people out on the roads.
2. Slow down and obey the speed limits! This tends to be an issue particularly in our communities. According to research by the National Safety Council, most of the children who lose their lives in vehicle-related incidents are 4 to 7 years old, and they're walking. Be mindful that there are children walking to and from school each day.
3. If you're driving behind a bus, allow a greater following distance than if you were driving behind a car. It will give you more time to stop once the yellow lights start flashing. It is illegal in all 50 states to pass a school bus that is stopped to load or unload children.
- Never pass a bus from behind – or from either direction if you're on an undivided road – if it is stopped to load or unload children
- If the yellow or red lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended, traffic must stop
- The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children; stop far enough back to allow them space to safely enter and exit the bus
- Be alert; children often are unpredictable, and they tend to ignore hazards and take risks
While this list is not comprehensive these are essential reminders to keep in mind. Please don't take your responsibility as a driver for granted. We appreciate any support that parents can provide in discussing this information with our student drivers.
