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Schools

Community, County Work Together to Ensure Bus Safety

With the start of the new school year a day away, drivers are reminded that there will be some changes in traffic flow.

Just like students becoming acclimated to the new school year, drivers must remember that with the start of the 2011-12 school year on Thursday there comes an increase in motor vehicle and pedestrian traffic as buses transport students to and from school. Children will be on the streets walking to, waiting for, and walking from their buses.    

The community, working in conjunction with the as well as Forsyth County bus drivers should be mindful of certain rules of the road regarding school buses. 

Generally speaking drivers need to stop when the bus driver activates emergency lights and to proceed with caution when approaching a school bus. Once the lights have been deactivated, traffic flow can resume. 

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Forsyth County Deputy Sgt, Erik Silveus, Special Operations Supervisor, offers the following reminders as the school year starts:

  • Slow down: there will be changes in the speed limit
  • Plan ahead: be aware of an increase in traffic delays around schools
  • If possible, avoid driving near schools
  • Know the start and end time of local schools

Penalties for passing a school bus include “very expensive and several points” according to Silveus and speeding tickets involve “substantial fines and points” he added.

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As a rule, having children walk in front of the bus is avoided by bus drivers. They will load and unload students at curbside in an effort to minimize the risk of injury. The county ensures student safety through a number of additional measures.

According to Gary Peutz, Director of Transportation for Forsyth County Schools, “We fully comply with all federal, state and local requirements, including those for obtaining and maintaining a Commercial Drivers License, as well as Georgia school bus driver laws, regulations and requirements.”

In addition, “drivers and monitors complete four hours of training in CPR/First Aid as well as how to manage chronic diseases and conditions that our students face," Peutz said.

Student behavior management is also addressed through four hours of classroom and the Olweus Bullying Intervention Program, and how to teach and model the county’s principles on bus riding habits through the SOAR (Safe, Orderly And Respectfully) program.

The buses themselves undergo monthly inspections of preventative maintenance. Additionally, the Georgia Department of Driver Services inspects the vehicles annually. 

When asked why school buses lack seat belts as a safety measure, Peutz explained, “seat belts are designed as an ‘active safety feature,' one that requires active participation by passengers to engage the belt (and engage it correctly). Because of the nature of school bus design and construction, and the nature and quantity of school bus passengers, we feel the use of compartmentalization along with the development of safe, orderly and respectful riding habits is the most effective way to protect our students.”

The safety record of the county shows these strategies have worked. Peutz explained that “the vast majority of our accidents are relatively minor." Since the 2007-08 school year, the accident rate has been reduced by 31 percent and, Peutz added that the department continues “to evaluate and assess our practices to improve that further.”

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