ISP provides school bus safety tips

State police are warning drivers to be on the lookout for school buses as summer break comes to an end and a new school year gets underway in Indiana.

As students across the state return to the classroom, the Indiana State Police Peru Post is sharing safety tips to help ensure a safer school year for everyone. 

As a reminder, it is illegal to pass a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended, except on highways divided by a barrier. If the highway is divided by a barrier, motorists are only required to stop if they are traveling in the same direction as the school bus.

State police encourage drivers to follow these best practices:

• When backing out of a driveway or leaving a garage, watch out for children walking or biking to school.
• When driving in neighborhoods with school zones, be alert for young people who may not be thinking about getting to school safely.
• Slow down and watch for children walking in the street, especially where there are no sidewalks.
• Be mindful of children playing and gathering near bus stops.
• Stay alert, as children arriving late for the bus may suddenly dart into the street without checking for traffic.
• Learn and adhere to the school bus laws in your state, as well as the "flashing signal light system" that school bus drivers use to notify motorists of upcoming actions.
• Yellow flashing lights on a school bus indicate it is preparing to stop. Motorists should slow down and be prepared to stop.
• Red flashing lights and extended stop arms indicate the bus has stopped and children are getting on or off. Motorists must stop their vehicles and wait until the red lights stop flashing and the extended stop arm is withdrawn before they can start driving again.

For parents, teach your child the following safety practices to make school bus transportation safer:

Safety Starts at the Bus Stop

• Ensure your child arrives at the bus stop at least five minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive.
• Show your child where to wait for the bus – at least three giant steps (six feet) away from the curb.
• Remind your child that the bus stop is not a place to run or play.

Get On and Off Safely

• Instruct your child to wait until the bus comes to a complete stop, the door opens and the driver indicates it's okay before approaching the bus door.
• Advise your child to use the handrails while getting on and off the bus to prevent falling.

Use Caution Around the Bus

• Teach your child to never walk behind a school bus.
• If your child must cross the street in front of the bus, instruct him/her to walk on a sidewalk or along the side of the street to a place at least five giant steps (10 feet) in front of the bus before crossing.
• Emphasize making eye contact with the bus driver before crossing.
• Instruct your child to inform the bus driver immediately if they drop something near the bus instead of trying to pick it up themselves.

Information provided by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute