National School Bus Safety Week Oct. 19-23

Held each year during the third week of October, National School Bus Safety Week is designed to promote and celebrate school bus safety at school across the country.

School buses are used to transport precious cargo to and from school and school activities regularly. Designed for safety, with flashing lights, giant mirrors, high seat backs and that bright yellow color, school buses are used to transport over 25 million students nationwide each school day.

Staff in the transportation department at Hot Springs County School District work to ensure the buses are mechanically safe and secure for children.

Knowing they are transporting the children of our community, school bus drivers work to stay alert and focused on getting students to their destination safely.

National School Bus Safety Week is an excellent way for everyone - parents, students, teachers, school bus operators, administrators and other interested parties - to join forces and address the importance of school bus safety.

Most importantly, motorists sharing the roads with school buses need to obey laws and make every effort to ensure each child has safe passage to and from their school bus. Slow down when approaching a school bus. Always stop for children when they are loading or unloading.

Parents can talk with their children about school bus safety. Remind them to look both ways before crossing a street to and from a bus. Even though buses are designed with flashing lights and stop signs, a distracted driver may inadvertently fail to stop as the law requires.

HSCSD transportation department staff will be working with Ralph Witters Elementary students throughout the week teaching students school bus safety and rules.