When Buffalo Public Schools welcome students back Friday morning, it means 650 buses will be hitting city streets.
- 650 buses will hit the road as BPS starts back up
- Taking the bus is considered the safest way to transport your child to school
- Kids should stand at least 10 giant steps away from the bus when it arrives
The goal is to get them there safely.
Bus drivers at First Student have been training all summer for their new routes.
“They are very excited,” said Dawn Tighe, the recruitment and training center manager at First Student.
The bus is the safest way to get a child to school, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
It’s also 70 times safer than a parent driving their child to school in a regular vehicle.
While it’s safe, there are still some god rules to follow.
First, drivers recommend kids arrive at least five minutes early to their stop.
It’s also important for parents to know their child’s bus number, bus stop and to practice dropping off and picking up children in order to establish a routine.
Another good tip: stand at least 10 giant steps away from the bus when it arrives.
Just as important as it is for kids to be safe, it’s even more important for motorists to share the responsibility.
Sean McCabe, general manager of Student First for Western New York, suggests slowing down when the lights flash yellow, keeping a safe distance from the bus and stopping for the stop arms.
But the most important safety feature of any bus is the driver themselves.
“They are the ones driving the bus, so they are the ones going to check the traffic, make sure your children are crossing the road safely, getting on and off the road safely,” Tighe said. “They educate your children every single day. They will remind them hold that hand rail, sit down in your seat, keep hands and arms inside the window. They will talk to mom and dad at the bus stop and make sure if there is anything they can do to make their child’s ride safer every day.”
They encourage parents to get to know their child’s bus driver simply by being there at the bus stop with their kids.