National School Bus Safety Week - October 17-21, 2022
National School Bus Safety Week — Reminder to Be Alert for School Bus Traffic Warning Signals
Student safety is everybody’s business
Safety is the first priority in Prince William County Public Schools; that is also on the minds of the school bus drivers who take care to see that 62,000 students are transported safely every day.
“Bus drivers are trained professionals and focused on safety,” says Director of Transportation Shirley Posey. “They are doing a great job, but they need the cooperation of other motorists.”
During National School Bus Safety Week, motorists are reminded that they are required to stop for school buses that are displaying flashing red lights and a stop arm. Motorists who fail to stop for a school bus loading/unloading students is one of the most common bus driver complaints.
Police are serious about enforcing the law, especially around schools, school crossings, and buses traveling on area roads. Such enforcement, along with motorists that exercise constant courtesy and caution when near school buses, helps ensure that Prince William County Public School students and drivers stay safe while going to or from school.
Prince William County school buses have an 8-light school bus warning system. The lights are used to warn traffic about what the school bus is doing. When the bus is preparing to load/unload students, the yellow traffic warning lights will flash, signaling caution to other motorists that the bus is preparing to stop. Once the bus has come to a complete stop, red traffic warning lights will flash, the stop arm will be extended from the side of the bus, and a crossing gate will extend for added safety and visibility.