Drivers across the country are asked to focus on school bus safety this week.
National School Bus Safety week runs through October 23, and Wichita’s leaders are focusing on getting drivers to stop when kids are getting on or off a bus.
“Every year First Student is proud to partner with the WPD in the effort to raise awareness for school bus safety,” says Renee Boydo, Training Program Manager for First Student. “While First Student and buses themselves are built for the safety of our children, it is a community effort to ensure those students are kept safe each and every day. Thousands of students here in Wichita begin and end their school day in one of these big yellow buses.
Kansas law requires drivers in both directions to stop for a bus when its red lights have been turned on. Drivers cannot proceed until the bus moves, or turns its lights and sign off. Buses in Wichita will display yellow lights before coming to a stop and activating their red lights. Boydo suggested keeping the phrase “when you see red, there are kids ahead” in mind.
The Wichita Police Department enforces bus laws all year, but extra officers will be watching for violations this week. The pandemic has fewer buses running, with Wichita’s middle and high school students being kept online. Elementary and special-needs students are currently attending class in-person.
