National School Bus Safety Week, October 19–23, is a chance to remind students, families and drivers that everyone has a role in keeping children safe. This week, Kathy Dykema, Ashley Breuker, Nancy Scholten and other members of the Hamilton Transportation team are visiting elementary schools to talk with young fives and kindergarten students about riding the bus safely.

For many of these students, this is their first year riding a school bus. The visits help them learn what to expect, how to behave on the bus and how to cross the road safely.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to show these young students who are riding the bus for the first time this year the safety of being seated, how to cross in front of the bus, how to use our indoor voices,” said Kathy Dykema, Transportation Supervisor. “It’s a great opportunity for us to teach them early so it carries on as things go on.”

The lessons include simple habits that help make each ride safer:

• Stay seated while the bus is moving and keep the aisle clear.

• Use an indoor voice and follow the driver’s directions.

• Wait for the bus to stop before approaching it.

• If directed to cross, take ten big steps next to and in front of the bus where the driver can see you, and follow the driver’s instructions.

Dykema also has a message for drivers sharing the road with school buses: “We’re big and yellow, please watch for us. If the yellow lights kick on, please slow down because more than likely we’ll have kids crossing the road. Please slow down is the biggest thing, please pay attention to buses on the road.”

When a bus displays flashing yellow lights, drivers should slow down and prepare to stop. When its red lights are flashing, Michigan law requires drivers to stop at least 20 feet from the bus and remain stopped until it resumes motion or the red lights are no longer flashing. The exception is for traffic traveling in the opposite direction on a roadway divided by a physical barrier or qualifying dividing space.

For Dykema and her colleagues, visiting the elementary schools is a highlight of the week. “I love this, I love being with the kids, it’s a fun week for us,” she said.

Thank you to Kathy, Ashley and the Hamilton Transportation team for helping our youngest students build safe habits from the start—and to all drivers for watching carefully around school buses.