Love the Bus Month is a vibrant celebration honoring the essential role of school buses and their drivers. Held annually, this event brings attention to the importance of safe and reliable transportation for everyone riding!
Love the Bus Month was created in 2007 by the American School Bus Council (ASBC) to celebrate the
important role of school buses and their drivers. ASBC launched the event to increase appreciation
for bus drivers and raise awareness about school bus safety.
They collaborated with several organizations, including the National Association for Pupil
Transportation (NAPT) and school bus manufacturers, ensuring a broad reach and meaningful impact
across the country.
Despite ASBC’s recent dissolution, NAPT continues to lead the celebration. They now have the right to
Love the Bus Month and have developed digital toolkits to help schools celebrate. This annual event
remains a significant way to honor the dedication and hard work of school bus drivers nationwide!
By highlighting the dedication of bus drivers, technicians, and attendants, the month-long festivities
aim to acknowledge their hard work and dedication. Celebrating Love the Bus Month is about
recognizing the various individuals who ensure students get to school safely.
Bus drivers are appreciated for their commitment to safety and their positive influence on students’
daily lives. This celebration also aims to educate the public about the significance of school bus
transportation and its impact on education.
Original Source: https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/love-the-bus-month/
Safety Tips for Parents and Students
- Please take a moment to review the following safety tips to help ensure our children arrive to and
from school safely each day: - Get to the school bus stop five minutes early so you won’t have to run across the road to catch
the bus. - When waiting for the bus, stay away from traffic. Line up at least five giant steps away from the curb or the roadway to wait for the bus.
- Never run after the school bus if it has already left the bus stop.
- Never push when getting on or off of the school bus.
- Always walk at least 10 feet in front of the bus when crossing so that the school bus driver can see you.
- Be aware – Cross with Care! Wait until the school bus has stopped all traffic before stepping out onto the road.
- When the school bus is moving, always stay in your seat. Never put your head, arms or hands out of the window.
- Talk quietly; do not distract your school bus driver.
- If your school bus crosses railroad tracks, be calm and quiet so that your driver can listen for a train.
- Always obey your school bus driver’s instructions, so that he or she can make safe decisions.
- Never play with the emergency exits. Backpacks, band instruments, or sports equipment may not block the aisle or emergency exits.
- If there is an emergency, listen to the driver and follow instructions.
- When getting off of the school bus, make sure that all drawstrings and other loose objects are secure so that they don’t get caught on the handrail or the door.
- Never cross the street behind the school bus.
- If you leave something on the bus or drop something outside of the bus, never go back for it. The driver may not see you and begin moving the bus.
- Never speak to strangers at the bus stop and never get into the car with a stranger
Pennsylvania’s School Bus Stopping Law
- Motorists must stop at least 10 feet away from school buses that have their red lights flashing
and stop arm activated. - Motorists must stop when they are behind a 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. - Do not proceed until all the children have reached a place of safety.
Source: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dmv/driver-services/school-bus-drivers/school-bus-safety