Bus Safety Tips

School buses make frequent stops to load and unload students...it is the nature of their business! In Missouri it is illegal to pass a school bus with its red lights flashing and stop–arm extended. If you are driving and come up behind a bus or pass from the other direction, please pay attention, slow down, and stop when the stop-arm is out. You may not see any children at that moment, but they could be running full speed from around the corner. Even after the bus has retracted the stop-arm and started to move, be aware of where children are, and in which direction they are moving.

Students who are riding the bus need to remember these basic safety rules-

• Try to arrive at the bus stop 5 minutes early to avoid a late rush.
• Never play in the street while waiting for the bus, and always remain off of the road and on the sidewalk.
• Line up facing the school bus door, not along the side of the school bus. Carry your belongings in a backpack or book bag, so you are less likely to drop something.
• Never reach under a school bus to get anything that has rolled or fallen underneath.
• After getting off the school bus, move immediately onto the sidewalk, out of traffic.
• Wait for a signal from the bus driver before you cross the street.
• Walk at least 10 steps away from the front of the bus so that the bus driver can see you, and never cross the street behind the school bus.

The first week of school is an adjustment period for transportation as well as student schedules, so please be patient and allow a little extra time at the bus stop. If you have any questions, please contact the Transportation Department at 636-327-3860.