VA State Police Back To School Safety Tips - Augst 15

Back To School Safety Tips

APPOMATTOX “As summer draws to a close, everyone needs to spend some time thinking about back-to-school safety issues”, said Sergeant David O. Cooper Public Information Officer for the state police.

For 23.5 million students nationwide, the school day begins and ends with a trip on a school bus. Students’ greatest risk is not in riding the bus, but in getting to the bus or entering or leaving it. Motorists need to be aware of the risks.

* Yellow flashing lights mean the bus is preparing to stop and load or unload children. Motorist need to slow down and prepare to stop.
* Red flashing lights and an extended stop arm mean the bus has stopped and children are boarding or exiting the bus. Motorist must come to a complete stop a safe distance from the bus and wait until the red lights stop flashing, the stop arm is retracted, and the bus begins moving before they start driving again.
* Have a safe place to wait for your bus, away from traffic and the street.
* Stay away from the school bus until it comes to a complete stop and the driver signals you to enter.
* When being dropped off, exit the bus and walk ten gaited steps away from the school bus. Keep a safe distance between you and the school bus. Remember that the bus driver can see you best when you are back away from the bus.
* Use the handrails to enter and exit the bus
* Be aware of the street traffic around you. Drivers are required to follow certain rules of the road concerning buses, however, not all do. Protect yourself and watch out.

Riding to school in a car

* You might have heard before that most traffic crashes occur close to home- they do.
* Safety belts are the best form of protection drivers and passengers have in the event of a crash. They can lower your risk of injury or death.
* You are four times more likely to be seriously injured or killed if ejected from the vehicle in a crash.
* Everyone needs to be buckled up properly. That means older kids in seat belts, younger kids in child safety seats.
* The initial license issued to any person younger than 18 of age shall be deemed a provisional driver’s license. Until the holder is 18 years old, a provisional driver’s shall not authorize its holder to operate a motor with more than one passenger who is less than 18 years old for the first year after the license is issued nor more than three passengers who are less than 18 years old thereafter until the holder’s eighteenth birthday. This passenger limitation, however shall not apply to the members of the driver’s family or household.