Monthly Calls 2024

MonthsCalls

  • January
    307
  • February
    258
  • March
    317
  • April
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • August
  • September
  • October
  • November
  • December

Total 882

Monthly Calls 2023

MonthsCalls

  • January
    323
  • February
    252
  • March
    295
  • April
    318
  • May
    287
  • June
    312
  • July
    316
  • August
    302
  • September
    330
  • October
    347
  • November
    346
  • December
    351

Total 3779

Monthly Calls 2022

MonthsCalls

  • January
    320
  • February
    261
  • March
    317
  • April
    247
  • May
    286
  • June
    267
  • July
    319
  • August
    304
  • September
    264
  • October
    301
  • November
    294
  • December
    368

Total 3548

15 Aug

BACK TO SCHOOL SAFETY FOR ALL!

Posted on August 15, 2019 in News

Students are headed back to school, and that means more children and buses on the roads.

DID YOU KNOW?

The greatest risk to a child isn’t riding a bus, but approaching or leaving one. From 2008 to 2017, there were 264 school-age children killed in school-transportation-related crashes. The majority of those students weren’t on the bus; 203 were either walking, waiting for the bus, biking, or in another vehicle.

STOP FOR SCHOOL BUSES

You may need to add more time to your commute, because when buses stop to pick up students, other drivers need to stop, too.

  • Yellow flashing lights mean slow down — don’t speed up — because the bus is preparing to stop. There are likely students waiting to get on the bus or parents waiting nearby to pick up children.
  • Red flashing lights mean stop — and wait at least 20 feet behind the bus — because children are getting on or off the school bus. Stay stopped until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop-arm is withdrawn, and the bus begins moving.
  • Even when lights aren’t flashing, watch for children, particularly in the morning or mid-afternoon, around school arrival and dismissal times. Be alert as you back out of a driveway, or drive through a neighborhood, school zone or bus stop

PARENTS

 TALK BUS SAFETY WITH YOUR CHILDREN

School buses are the safest way for children to travel to and from school. Your child should arrive at the bus stop at least 5 minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive. Teach them to play it SAFE:

  • Stay five steps away from the curb.
  • Always wait until the bus comes to a complete stop and the bus driver tells you to board.
  • Face forward after finding a seat on the bus.
  • Exit the bus when it stops and look left-right-left for cars before crossing a street.

In addition to practicing and modeling safe behaviors with your children, ask your school principal if there is a Safe Routes to School program or other school-based safety committees and initiatives you can get involved in.

Bikers

KNOW THE RULES OF THE ROAD

Riding your bike can be a fun and quick way to get to school. Be sure to do these simple things to keep your bike ride safe:

  • Always wear a correctly fitted helmet, and securely fasten the chin strap.
  • Ride in the same direction as traffic, and follow traffic signs and signals.
  • Stay in the bike lane whenever possible.
  • Never use electronics while riding – they are distracting.

Student drivers

FOCUS ON THE ROAD

For some teens, back to school also means the new-found freedom of driving. You should keep these things in mind when driving to school:

  • The car shouldn’t move until everyone is buckled up.
  • Follow the speed limit.
  • Stay focused. In 2017, 297 people died in crashes that involved distracted teen (15- to 19-year-old) drivers.
    • Remember that the phone stays down when you’re driving. Make it a habit to put your phone in the glove compartment or other inaccessible location, to reduce temptation to check notifications or texts.
    • Reduce distraction by limiting the number of additional passengers. If you do have others in the car with you, keep your eyes and your mind on the road.

Let this school year be a safe one for everyone. Stay alert, whether you’re a driver, walker, bicyclist, bus rider, or parent.

Information provided by NSTSA.gov