COURTESY DARE COUNTY SCHOOLS
SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2019
1B
THE COASTLAND TIMES
Back to school rules of the road
With school starting, buses will be on the roads and children will be walking and biking. It’s critical that drivers know the rules of the road to keep everyone safe. On average, there are nearly 3,000 incidents of cars passing stopped school buses every school day in North Carolina. This is dangerous for students and it’s against the law. At the school, be sure to pay attention while driving so you’ll see when a child is being dropped off or picked up. Never pass a vehicle that is stopped for pedestrians and always stop and yield to pedestrians crossing the crosswalk or intersection in a school zone when flashers are blinking. Give each bus plenty of space and know the school bus passing laws. On a
two-lane road, all traffic from both directions must stop. On a two-lane road with a center turning lane, all traffic must come to a stop. On a four-lane road without a median, traffic from both directions must stop. In the case of a divided highway with four or more lanes, only traffic following the school bus needs to stop. When on a road with four lanes or more with a center turning lane, just traffic following the bus must stop. Penalties for passing a stopped school bus include a $500 fine and an additional four insurance points, which could increase insurance rates by 80 percent. It’s vital that drivers also slow down and obey the posted speed limit in a school zone – a child’s life could depend on it.
COURTESY DARE COUNTY SCHOOLS
Student safety tips when riding the school bus The number one school bus safety rule for students is to always stay where the driver can see you. When students walk to the bus stop, they should always walk on the sidewalk, never run. If there is no sidewalk, walk on the left, facing traffic. Plan to go to the bus stop about five minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive. Students should not run and play and wait quietly in a safe place well away from the road while waiting at the bus stop. When getting on and off the bus, the student should enter the bus in line with younger students in front. They should hold the handrail while going up and down the stairs and go directly to a seat. Bus riders should remain seated and face for ward during the entire ride. Students should always speak
quietly on the bus so the driver will not be distracted. Tell your student to never throw things on the bus or out the windows. Keep the aisles clear at all times. If there is an emergency, they should listen to
the driver and follow the instructions. When exiting, if a student leaves something on the bus, they should never return to the bus to get it. The driver may not see them come back. A student
should be taught to respect the “danger zone” which surrounds all sides of the bus. The “danger zone” is ten feet wide on all sides of the bus. They should always remain 10 steps away from the bus to be out of the “danger zone” and where the driver can see them. Once off the bus, they should always cross the street in front of the bus. They should never go behind the bus. If the child drops something near the bus, they should tell the bus driver before attempting to pick it up, so the driver will know where they are. Your child should never speak to strangers at the bus stop and never get into the car with a stranger. Teach your child to go straight home and tell a parent if a stranger tries to talk to them or pick them up.
Practice walking to school with your child Parents should practice walking to school with their child, crossing streets or crosswalks when available. Teach your child to walk on the sidewalk. If there is no sidewalk and they must walk in the street or road, walk facing traffic. Teach them to never walk while texting or talking on the phone or while using headphones. Before crossing the street, stop and look left, right and left again to see if cars are coming and remind them that they should never dart out in front of a parked car.