With July over and the days of August already upon us, it will soon be a regular thing to see school buses on the road to bring all the boys and girls to school. Some schools in Northwest Arkansas have begun, with most starting classes in coming weeks
The state of Arkansas takes the roadways very seriously and here at On Time Logistics, we do too. With that in mind, we decided to share tips for everyone who will be sharing the roadways this school year. We’ve already shared tips for navigating the school bus routes when you’re driving a regular vehicle, but today we want to share tips for both drivers and pedestrians for school bus safety.
Sharing the road with buses
Drivers should be aware of the laws of the road. In this case, the laws surrounding buses are particularly important. A great summary of traffic laws in Arkansas can be found here, but we want to point out the laws that are specific to school buses and school zones:
- The school zone speed limit is 25 miles per hour
- When the bus displays red lights, the stop arm, or both, drivers must stop until both the flashing lights and stop arm are no longer in use
- When a crossing guard gestures to stop, the drivers are required to do so
- Bus drivers are not allowed to be under any influence of drug
- Bus drivers are not allowed to have their cellular devices when working
- Drivers are not allowed to use their cell phone for phone calls, texts, or internet while in a school zone.
Road safety is the responsibility of pedestrians
Pedestrians, be it adults or children, must keep safety rules in mind. We encourage parents to teach the safety rules and etiquette.
- Always look both ways before crossing the street
- Make sure the child knows the road is off limits and the sidewalk is safe
- Only cross the street when a cross guard is present
- Make it known that drivers cannot really see children so darting between vehicles is never safe
- No horseplay going to, on, or leaving the bus.
School is meant to be a happy and secure time for kids. These laws and tips in this are meant to ensure safety for children and drivers alike.