LAKELAND - The rideSAFE program has returned to Northern Lights Public Schools (NLPS), just in time for School Bus Safety Week, which runs from Oct. 15-21.
Last week, students at Duclos School in Bonnyville got to learn about school bus safety, their responsibility as riders, bus rules, and what they need to do if they need to evacuate the school bus, according to information from NLPS.
The program will be delivered to students at North Star Elementary School in Cold Lake this week.
The rideSAFE program was developed by NLPS and delivered by the division’s senior driving instructor. A combination of classroom instruction and practical exercises on a school bus are used to teach Kindergarten to Grade 6 students about school bus safety.
“It’s important that our students feel safe on our buses, and know what to do in case there is an emergency,” said NLPS Superintendent Rick Cusson. “We want everyone to get to school safely in the morning and arrive home safely in the afternoon.”
This year's provincial focus of Bus Safety Week is “Stand Back from Yellow and Black,” which highlights the importance of standing far enough away from a bus to be seen by the driver. "The recommended minimum distance is 10 feet," according to information from NLPS.
The NLPS board of trustees continues to advocate for enhanced safety for school buses, including making external cameras on buses mandatory and funding to pay for those cameras, according to information from the school division. Cameras can be helpful in dealing with fly-bys and other incidents that occur on local roads.
“Fly-bys have been a concern for the board for many, many years,” explained Board Chair Karen Packard. “Despite many public awareness campaigns, we continue to receive reports of fly-bys on a frequent basis. This creates a dangerous situation for our students who may be exiting a bus or crossing a street or highway.”
Fly-bys occur when vehicles pass a bus that is stopped with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended.
Drivers who do not stop for a bus with its lights flashing could receive a $567 fine and lose six demerit points from their license. Drivers are also reminded to be aware of school zones and crosswalks, and avoid parking in school bus loading zones.
“We need everyone to work together to help keep our students safe as they are travelling to and from school whether they are walking or biking or riding the bus,” said Packard.
