For Immediate Release
OCTOBER 19, 2020
Media may contact:
Jeff Deeble
419-752-3815 ext 11251
South Central Local School District and community to focus on bus safety Oct. 19-23
South Central Local School District and the surrounding community will join other schools and communities to recognize National School Bus Safety Week, Oct. 19-23. The national theme this year is Red Lights Mean STOP!
The big yellow school bus has become an institution in our country, with children and families benefiting from the safe transportation service accomplished with these vehicles and the staff who operate them. Often, we take for granted the benefit of this service, even while school and transportation staff continue to focus on maximizing safety and efficiency.
More than 800,000 Ohio students ride on school buses each day, and nearly 15,000 bus drivers, mechanics, secretaries and supervisors statewide are dedicated to providing safe transportation for Ohio children. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tells us that students are about 70 times more likely to get to school safely when taking a school bus instead of travelling by car.
This year’s national campaign is focused on reminding motorists that they need to use caution around school buses and come to a stop when the bus is displaying its red flashing lights. Children will be getting on or off the school bus. Some children may also need to cross the street to get to their residence. Ohio law requires motorists to stop clear of the school bus until the bus driver cancels the red lights.
“Ensuring the safety of our students is crucial,” is the message from both {your superintendent} and {your police chief or sheriff}. “We are training our bus drivers to be cautious, but we need help from parents to make sure children remain alert and mindful of good safety practices when walking to their bus stop or to school.”
The South Central Local School District transportation department offers the following tips to remind your child while getting on and off the bus:
• Get to the bus stop in plenty of time.
• Wait at your driver designated place of safety.
• Take 10 giant steps away from the bus when unloading.
• Always follow the driver’s directions for how to cross the street.
• Be alert to traffic and look both ways.
• If you must cross the street, always cross in front of the bus.