It is School Bus Safety Week October 17-23. The theme this year is We Stop – You Stop. SD83 Transportation Manager Andrea Kathrein reports to help raise awareness SD83 will be running radio commercials expressing the importance of stopping for a school bus with red lights activated (We Stop – You Stop), asking drivers not to rush the bus, and to ensure they are not driving distracted around a school bus!
There will also be other reminders, including posters and coffee cup sleeves with safety messages at participating restaurants.
Kathrein comments over recent years the number of drivers passing school buses with their red lights on – which is when children are most vulnerable as they are entering or unloading from the bus – has risen dramatically.
Awareness measures, such as posters and the safety campaigns, have taken place and the local RCMP have also been very supportive in trying to help deter this trend.
As always, SD83 will continue to support students and bus drivers through training on acceptable and safe school bus safety procedures and protocol.
Thanks to School District No. 73 for sharing this video.