KSP Cautions Motorists to be Aware of Back-To-School Travel

As thousands of Kentucky students head back to school this week, Kentucky State Police is urging motorists to remain cautious behind the wheel and help prevent injuries and deaths that result each year from school bus-related crashes.

Last year, Kentucky had 852 school bus related crashes, resulting in 297 injuries and three deaths. With school starting in many communities, KSP Spokesman Sgt. Michael Webb is urging motorists to be alert for loading and unloading school buses.

KSP is asking all motorists to be extra cautious as schools open this month and especially when maneuvering around school buses. Law enforcement will be strictly enforcing speed zones in and around schools to ensure children get to school safely.

Kentucky law states if any school bus used in the transportation of children is stopped on a highway for the purpose of loading or unloading passengers, with the stop arm and signal lights activated, the operator of a vehicle approaching from any direction must stop and not proceed until the passengers have loaded/unloaded and the bus has been put in motion.

Passing a school bus while it is loading or unloading is a Class B misdemeanor for the first offense and a Class A misdemeanor for the second offense.

KSP encourages parents to review the following schools bus safety rules.

Rules for getting on and off the school bus getting on the school bus

When waiting for the bus, stay away from traffic and avoid roughhousing or other behavior that can lead to carelessness. Do not stray onto streets, alleys or private property.

Line up away from the street or road as the school bus approaches.

Wait until the bus has stopped and the door opens before stepping onto the roadway.

If you have to cross the street in front of the bus, walk at least ten feet ahead of the bus along the side of the road, until you can turn around and see the driver.

Make sure that the driver can see you.

Wait for a signal from the driver before beginning to cross.

When the driver signals, walk across the road, keeping an eye out for sudden traffic changes.

Do not cross the center line of the road until the driver has signaled that it is safe for you to begin walking.

Stay away from rear wheels of the bus at all times.

Children should always stop at the curb or the edge of the road and look left, then right, and then left again before crossing.

They should continue looking in this manner until they are safely across.

If students’ vision is blocked by a parked car or other obstacle, they should move out to where drivers can see them and they can see other vehicles — then stop, and look left-right-left again.