Love the Bus program highlights school bus safety and their drivers
CLEARFIELD COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — The 'Love the Bus' program works to highlight the importance of school bus drivers and how children can be safe on school buses.
This year the program was celebrated at the Clearfield Elementary School and representatives from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and Highway Safety Network spoke with students. They shared how students can be safe around a bus and they play a role in being safe on it.
'Safety is a shared responsibility between students, our bus drivers, parents and teachers. So this gives us an opportunity to kind of bring all of that together right? Talk to the students about what they're part of that shared responsibility is when they're on the school bus,' Josh Woods, the community traffic safety programs coordinator for the Highway Safety Network said.
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Students were given the following tips to be safe while near or on the bus:
Get to the school bus stop five minutes early so you won't have to run across the road to catch the bus.
When waiting for the bus, stay away from traffic and line up at least five giant steps away from the curb.
Never run after the school bus if it has already left the bus stop.
Never push when getting on or off the school bus.
Always walk at least 10 feet in front of the bus when crossing so that the school bus driver can see you.
When the school bus is moving, always stay in your seat. Never put your head, arms, or hands out the window.
Never play with the emergency exits. Backpacks, band instruments, or sports equipment may not block the aisle or emergency exits. If there is an emergency, listen to the driver and follow instructions.
Never cross the street behind the school bus.
The annual event normally takes place around Valentine's Day as it gives students the opportunity to show their appreciation for their bus drivers. So, despite being a little late, first-grade students still were able to give their drivers a token of their appreciation.
As the day was all about school bus safety, drivers should also remember that the School Bus Stopping Law requires them to stop at least 10 feet away from buses with their red lights flashing and stop arms extended.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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