It’s time for another school year to begin throughout the Lehigh Valley.

With classes in session, school buses will once again be back on the roads transporting children to and from school.

According to a recent AAA Travelers article, titled “Safe Habits Wise at School Bus Stop,” more than 25 million students nationwide take a bus to and from school daily.

The article states, “Students are 70% more likely to get to school safely by taking a bus than traveling by car, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.”

There is also advice to parents:

• Make sure children aren’t late to their bus stops. They should arrive at least five minutes before the bus is scheduled for pickup.

• Acquaint the child with the bus stop.

• Let them know to remain at least 6 feet away from the curb, and remind them the bus stop is not a place to run or play.

• Wait until the bus comes to a complete stop, with the door open and the bus driver indicating it is OK to board, before approaching the bus door.

• Remind children to pay attention to their surroundings as they are traveling, and teach them to count the number of stops the bus makes before they get to and from school.

While parents need to teach their children how to be safe around and on school buses, it is also important for motorists to familiarize themselves with laws regarding bus stop safety.

According to Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s website on Pennsylvania’s School Bus Stopping Law, motorists must stop at least 10 feet away from school buses that have their red lights flashing and stop arm extended.

Motorists must stop when they are behind a bus, meeting the bus or approaching an intersection where a bus is stopped.

Motorists following or traveling alongside a school bus must also stop until the red lights have stopped flashing, the stop arm is withdrawn and all children have reached a place of safety.

For more school bus safety tips for motorists, parents and students, visit penndot.gov/safety.

While school buses may be one of the safest ways for children to get to and from school, there are, however, some children who walk, ride their bicycle or have their parents drive them.

Parents, it is also important to teach these children how to stay safe while walking or riding their bicycle to school or riding in your vehicle.

Children should:

• Always pay attention to their surroundings.

• Watch for traffic turning corners.

• Never cross a busy street until all traffic has stopped.

• Always cross at a crosswalk, never from between two parked vehicles.

• Never ride a bicycle across a street; walk it across.

• Always look in all directions before crossing a street.

• When exiting a vehicle, never walk between or behind vehicles. Walk in front so the driver can see you.

As this new school year begins, let’s all be more alert to the school buses on the roads, as well as the children walking or riding their bicycles to school.

Let’s all focus on keeping children safe this school year.

Susan Bryant

editorial assistant

Parkland Press

Northwestern Press