Wednesday, August 12, 2026
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Vol. 56, No. 7
Milford (574) 658-4111 • Warsaw (574) 269-2932 • Syracuse (574) 457-3666
114 W. Market, Warsaw, Indiana 46580
READY TO ROLL OUT — Shown are employees of Warsaw Community Schools Transportation. From left are Katie Ault, Cindy Shuler, Tamara Roller, Kathy Lee, Ty Gabraith, Candi Bibler, Glyn Patrick, Dee Stavedahl, Payton Ryan and Dave Simmons. Photo by Abby Oliver.
Officials urge caution around
SCHOOL BUSES
By ABBY OLIVER Staff Writer As students head back to school, transportation officials say parents, students, bus drivers and other motorists all play a role in bus safety. Phil Huffman, a bus router with Warsaw Community Schools Transportation, said one of the biggest reminders is simple: “No horseplay.” Parents need to make sure younger children are aware of their surroundings and ready to board when the bus arrives. Students should not approach the bus until it has come to a complete stop, its lights are activated and the door has opened. Bus driver training plays a key role in student safety. An on-staff trainer works with new drivers, reviewing the parts of the bus, stopping procedures, safe loading and unloading practices, and how to remain aware of their surroundings. After the initial training, drivers complete additional instruction with a state trainer and must pass a certification test demonstrating their ability to drive, inspect and maneuver the bus. Drivers also must pass a physical examination. “You can’t curb your tires in the training, or you will automatically fail,” Huffman said. Once on the road, drivers check their mirrors and make sure no one has moved to the front, back, sides or underneath the bus. “You’ve gotta watch where everybody’s heading on group stops,” Huffman said. “You want to make sure everyone’s safe before you take off.” Huffman said buses require wider turns because of their length. If another vehicle pulls past the white line or stop sign, the bus driver must wait until it moves before making the turn.
Another challenge comes from other motorists. “We get a lot of stop-arm violations,” Huffman said. The yellow lights on a bus warn other drivers the bus is preparing to stop. The red lights and extended stop arm signal that motorists must stop. “We get people who try to speed up and beat the bus to the stop,” Huffman said. “To me, if that arm is coming out ... you’ve just blown a stop sign, technically.” Railroad crossings also present hazards. School bus drivers must stop at every crossing, even if it appears abandoned. Huffman said many motorists forget about that requirement, especially on highways such as US 30. “I really think there needs to be a bigger section in the state driver’s ed portion for younger people learning to be aware of buses,” Huffman said. “It’s talked about, but it’s never a big question area in the driver’s ed test.” He pointed to East Center Street near Papa John’s as a common location for violations. Because it is an undivided four-lane road, all vehicles in both directions must stop when a bus has its red lights flashing and stop arm extended. On divided highways, vehicles traveling in the opposite direction are not required to stop. “Sit out there at Papa John’s ... and see how many you get,” Huffman said. “They’re constantly calling them in on the radio; three, four, five cars pass.” Tom Craig, transportation specialist for Tippecanoe Valley School Corp., said one of the biggest concerns he sees is motorists not paying attention around school buses. “When you see a yellow bus, be prepared to stop,” Craig said. Technology also helps keep students safe. Craig said buses are equipped with two exterior cameras “specifically set to stop stop-arm runners,” along with five interior cameras. Continued on page 3