National School Bus Safety Week Coming Up Next Week

National School Bus Safety Week is coming up October 22 –  26.

Sponsored by the National Association for Pupil Transportation, this year’s theme is, My Driver – My Safety Hero.”

National School Bus Safety Week is a way for parents, students, teachers, motorists, school bus operators, school administrators, and others to join forces and address the importance of school bus safety.

Jason Ayers, is the Director of the Pioneer RESA Chapter of the Georgia Association of Pupil Transportation and is also the Director of Transportation for the Franklin County School System.

According to Ayers, during the school year motorists need to remember a few safety tips, which are also law in Georgia.

One of the most important laws is to stop when you see a school bus in front of you stop and do not attempt to go around it.

And as of May, a new law also requires drivers coming in the opposite direction to stop and wait until all the children getting off the bus are out of the roadway and safe.

Ayers said school bus drivers have one of the most important jobs on the road and work long hours to keep your children safe.

“At most jobs you show up one time and you leave one time,” he explained. “With our job you show up twice. You show up for the morning route and then you show up for the afternoon route. In Franklin Conty, some of the drivers get to the shop about 5:20 a.m. They get their bus pre-tripped and ready to go because we pick up some of our children at 6 a.m. or so, so they’ll get there at 5:20 a.m. and do whatever they need to do.”

National School Bus Safety Week culminates with Bus Driver Appreciation Day on the 26th.

Ayers says nothing means more to a school bus driver than having a student or their parents on their route say thank you.

“Anything they can think of, stand up there with a poster that says, ‘thank you,’” Ayers said. “They’re appreciative of anything, but just a simple thank you is enough. We have people come by the department with coffee and donuts after their shifts. They’re appreciative of anything. And it doesn’t just have to be parents. We share the road with everybody. If you know of a driver and you see them, tell them ‘I appreciate you being consistent. I appreciate the job you do every day for our children.'”

According to Georgia.gov, research shows that students are 70 times more likely to make it safely to school by taking the bus than traveling by car.