The Hills-Beaver Creek bus drivers are a dedicated group. They transport area students to and from school in all kinds of weather.
Recently, winter weather has added stress to their jobs. "The cold weather is worse," said bus driver John Tilstra. There were plenty of places the plows hadn't been over yet when he started his afternoon bus route Tuesday, according to Tilstra.
He was quick to say other drivers on the road were usually cautious. He said it has been several years since he has had to report a driver.
The Hills-Beaver Creek School provided the following rules for bus safety.
School Bus Safety
Getting children to and from school safely each day is serious business. Every year, thousands of children are injured in school busÐrelated accidents. Many of these accidents can be prevented if children know and follow these rules for bus safety:
-"Rushing" roulette. When children are late for the bus, they concentrate more on getting aboard than on safety. Too often, accidents result. Set your morning routine so that your child arrives at the bus stop at least five minutes before the bus is due.
-Stay in the "safe zone." Bus drivers have blind spots because of bus design, and many children have been injured because the bus driver simply didn't see them. Tell your children to always stay in the "safe zone" - at least 10 feet in front of the bus.
-Save the horseplay. Bus stops are not playgrounds. Goofing around while waiting for the bus, especially if the play extends into the street, can be deadly. Make sure your children understand the danger.
-One at a time. Every child wants to get a "good" seat, but it's important for children to take their time entering the bus, lining up in single file and not trying to push their way through a swarm.
-No distractions. Children may think that bus rules - no shouting, no throwing things, no horseplay - are just to keep them in line, but there are serious safety issues involved. They should understand the importance of never distracting the bus driver.
-Stay put. Children are so eager to leave the bus that they often start for the front before the bus has stopped. Let them know that they should wait until the bus comes to a complete stop before leaving their seats.
-Cut the ties. Clothing with drawstrings can be a real danger because loose strings can get caught on bus handrails. To be safe, remove drawstrings from your children's jackets and look for backpacks that don't have drawstrings.
-Heads up. A dropped book can turn into a serious accident if the bus driver doesn't see it. Tell your children to let the bus driver know immediately if they drop something while getting on or off the bus.
-The inside story. As tempting as it might be to wave through an open window on a sunny day, children need to understand the importance of keeping their hands, arms and heads inside the bus.
-Getting there. Figure out the safest route to and from the bus stop and walk it with your children a few times. Make sure they cross streets only at crosswalks or corners, never darting out between parked cars, and that they always look both ways before crossing.
It takes only a few minutes to review these bus safety tips with your children. Please, make the time.