Celebrate our bus drivers during National School Bus Safety Week

Celebrate our bus drivers during National School Bus Safety Week

Atlanta Public Schools joins the nation in celebrating National School Bus Safety Week from October 21-25, and National School Bus Drivers Appreciation Day on October 23!

This year’s theme, ”Stand Back From the Yellow and Black!” reminds students to be cautious when they cross the street.  Students should cross the street where they are visible to the bus driver and watch for traffic.

This is an opportunity for the entire district to recognize the safe, efficient and reliable service provided each day by our school transportation personnel. APS bus drivers safely deliver 22,000 students and navigate 25,000 miles daily through one of the nation’s worst commutes.

Please show your appreciation and support to your school bus drivers for their dedication and the invaluable service they provide for the children of APS everyday!

School Bus Safety Tips for Students:

• The bus driver and others cannot see you if you are standing closer than 10 feet to the bus. Stay out of this danger zone!
• If something falls under or near the bus, tell the driver. NEVER try to pick it up yourself!
• While waiting for the bus, stay in a safe place away from the street.
• When you get on or off the bus, look for the bus safety lights and make sure they are flashing.
• Be alert to traffic. When you get on or off the bus, look left, right, left before you enter or cross the street.
• When the driver says it is safe to cross the street, remember to CROSS IN FRONT of the bus.
• Stay in your seat and sit quietly so that the driver is not distracted.
• If you have seat belts on your school bus, be sure to learn to use the seat belt correctly.

School Bus Safety Information for Parents:

• School buses are the safest form of highway transportation.
• The most dangerous part of the school bus ride is getting on and off the bus.
• Pedestrian fatalities (while loading and unloading school buses) account for approximately three times as many school bus-related fatalities, when compared to school bus occupant fatalities.
• The loading and unloading area is called the “Danger Zone” and is the area on all sides of the bus where children are in the most danger of not being seen by the driver (ten feet in front of the bus where the driver may be too high to see a child, ten feet on either side of the bus where a child may be in the driver’s blind spot, and the area behind the bus.
• We encourage you to review school bus safety tips with your child each and every school year.