HELP KEEP OUR STUDENTS SAFE
~ KNOW WHEN TO STOP ~

Section 545.066 of the Texas Transportation Code defines the offense of Passing a School Bus as: An operator on a highway, when approaching from either direction a school bus stopped on the highway to receive or discharge a student shall stop before reaching the school bus when the bus is operating a visual signal as required by Section 547.701; and may not proceed until the school bus resumes motion; the operator is signaled by the bus driver to proceed; or the visual signal is no longer actuated. An operator on a highway having separate roadways is not required to stop for a school bus that is on a different roadway; or if on a controlled-access highway, for a school bus that is stopped in a loading zone that is a part of or adjacent to the highway; and where pedestrians are not permitted to cross the roadway.

A highway is considered to have separate roadways only if the highway has roadways separated by an intervening space on which operation of vehicles is not permitted, a physical barrier, or a clearly indicated dividing section constructed to impede vehicular traffic; and a highway is not considered to have separate roadways if the highway has roadways separated only by a left turn lane. Section 541.302(5) of the Texas Transportation Code defines "highway or street" as the width between the boundary lines of a publicly maintained way any part of which is open to the public for vehicular traffic.

Safety Tips for Riding the Bus

Students Riding a School Bus Should Always:

• Arrive at the bus stop five minutes early.

• Stand at least 5 giant steps (10 feet) away from the edge of the road.

• Wait until the bus stops, the door opens, and the driver says it’s okay before stepping onto the bus.

• Be careful that clothing with drawstrings and book bags with straps or dangling objects do not get caught in the handrail or door when exiting the bus.

• Check both ways for cars before stepping off the bus.
  
  

Students who are Required to  Cross the Street Should:

• Walk in front of the bus; never walk behind the bus.

• Walk on the sidewalk or along the side of the road to a point at least 10 giant steps ahead of the bus.

• Be sure the bus driver can see them, and they can see the bus driver.

• Wait for the driver’s signal to cross
  
  

Things Students Should Know about School Bus Safety

• The bus driver and others cannot see you if you are standing closer than 10 feet to the bus.

• Stay out of the danger zone!

• If something falls under or near the bus, tell the driver. NEVER try to pick it up yourself!

• While waiting for the bus, stay in a safe place away from the street.

• When you get on or off the bus, look for the RED bus safety lights and make sure they are flashing.

• Be alert to traffic. When you get on or off the bus, look left, right, left before you enter or cross the street.

• When the driver says it is safe to cross the street, remember to CROSS IN FRONT of the bus.

• Stay in your seat and sit quietly so that the driver is not distracted.

• Some school buses now have seat belts. If you have seat belts on your school bus, be sure to learn to use the seat belt correctly.
  
  

Things Families Should Know about School Bus Safety

• School buses are the safest form of highway transportation.

• The most dangerous part of the school bus ride is getting on and off the bus.

• Pedestrian fatalities (while loading and unloading school buses) account for approximately three times as many school bus-related fatalities, when compared to school bus occupant fatalities.

• The loading and unloading area is called the “Danger Zone”

• 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, and the behind the bus).

• Half of the pedestrian fatalities in school bus-related crashes are children between 5 and 7 years old.

• Young children are most likely to be struck because they:

• Hurry to get on and off the bus

• Act before they think and have little experience with traffic

• Assume motorists will see them and will wait for them to cross the street

• Don’t always stay within the bus driver’s sight

This information was provided by the National School Bus Safety Week Committee