DUBOIS – With Pennsylvania’s school year back in full swing, students are readying to fill their minds with new lessons. PennDOT wants to remind students and motorists that knowledge in some subject areas should last a lifetime.
Joined by representatives of the DuBois Area School District, PennDOT provided a refresher on how to play it safe when it comes to school transportation.
DuBois Area School District officials also spoke about methods in place to make the before and after school hours safer for all types of school transportation. The district’s school resource officers spoke of initiatives including designating areas for buses, parent drop-off and walkers, as well as in-class presentations for students.
DuBois Area School District Superintendent Tim Deluccia said approximately 4,200 students are transported to the district each day by several means, and coordinating that is no small feat. “It is a cooperative effort of all of us working together,” he said.
PennDOT offers the following tips for pedestrians:
- Cross only at crosswalks. Don’t cross between parked cars.
- Look LEFT – RIGHT – then LEFT again.
- Always obey traffic signs and signals.
- Watch for turning vehicles at intersections, even if you have the right-of-way and are proceeding lawfully.
- On streets with multiple lanes in each direction, be aware of what drivers in both near lanes are doing. If one driver is allowing you to cross, the other might not see you.
Students who use a bus to go to school should also follow these pedestrian safety tips:
- When waiting for the school bus, stay at least five giant steps away from the curb or roadway to avoid traffic.
- Avoid the School Bus Danger Zone by staying at least 10 giant steps away from the bus so the bus driver can see you. If you drop something and it is close to or under the bus, be sure to tell the driver before attempting to retrieve it.
- NEVER walk behind the school bus.
- Get to the bus stop five minutes early to avoid having to run to catch the bus.
For motorists, there are some additional tips to remember:
- Motorists must stop at least 10 feet away from school buses that have their red lights flashing and stop arm extended.
- Motorists must stop when they are behind the bus, meeting the bus or approaching an intersection where a bus is stopped.
- Motorists following or traveling alongside a school bus must also stop until the red lights have stopped flashing, the stop arm is withdrawn, and all children have reached safety.
- If physical barriers such as grassy medians, guide rails or concrete median barriers separate oncoming traffic from the bus, motorists in the opposing lanes may proceed without stopping.
Motorists should also exercise special care when traveling in school zones. In these areas, the speed limit is reduced to 15 miles per hour during posted times. Failing to reduce speed in these areas could result in a fine and three points being placed on the driver’s record.
DuBois Area School District Transportation Director Randy Schmidt said there are a few hours each morning that require extra attention from drivers. “The hours of 6:30 to 8:45 a.m. are particularly busy with students arriving at school,” he said. “Please keep them in your minds during these hours.”
For more information on Pennsylvania’s pedestrian safety initiative, visit PennDOT’s highway safety Web site and click on the Bicycle/Pedestrian Safety link under the Traffic Safety Information Center.