School Bus Safety

To The Eagle,

Safety is are number one concern when operating a school bus. We (my drivers) transport the most precious commodity in the world (OUR KIDS AND OUR FUTURE). I would like to help take some of the guess work out of what a school bus does at each and every stop.

We use a combination of lights on a school bus to make the stops safe. We have headlights, taillights, marker lights, turn signals, brake lights and yes, even backup lights. We also have the eight-way system, otherwise known as the school bus stop lights. These lights are positioned at the highest point of a school bus for the most visibility. The eight-way lights are used separately from the other lights I mentioned.

At each school bus stop, whether it is picking up or dropping off we use the same procedure. Just prior to the bus stop, we activate the amber lights as a warning to drivers that a stop is ahead. The driver is actively checking for potential safety issues. We us a combination of mirrors on the bus to have a 360-degree view of the situation. Once the driver has arrived at the stop the red lights (8 way) are activated. At this point the driver scans the area, looking for kids, vehicles moving and makes sure the stop is secure. Nothing around the bus should be moving until the kids are loaded on the bus and seated. The eight-way light system is only be used on the traveled roadway. The hazard lights, (halfway up the bus) are only to be used off the traveled roadway where you can proceed with caution to pass the bus.

School bus transportation is the safest means of transportation for our students. LET’S KEEP IT THAT WAY! We are looking for bus drivers and the training is free. Come join the team. Applications can be filled out on the Wahkiakum website.

Calvin D. Grasseth

Transportation Supervisor

Wahkiakum School District