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JACKSON, MISS. – Ready or not, back-to-school season is here! Amid the excitement of taking first-day photos, meeting teachers and shopping for school supplies, more vehicles are on the road carrying precious cargo. With the safety of kids, parents, school bus drivers and others in mind, the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) is offering a few reminders to help everyone ace traffic safety this year.
“As students head back to school, we all have a role to play in keeping them safe,” said Brad White, MDOT Executive Director. “Slowing down in school zones, obeying school bus laws and watching for children walking or biking are simple steps that can help keep Mississippi’s kids safe throughout the school year.”
Motorists can set a good example for the next generation by always following the rules of the road and putting away distractions, especially around school buses and in school zones.
For motorists, MDOT offers the following tips for school bus safety:
- The overall best practice is to “always stop if there’s a stopped school bus.”
- If the yellow or red lights are flashing and the stop paddle is extended, traffic must stop.
- Never pass a bus from behind – or from either direction if you’re on an undivided road – if it is stopped to load or unload children.
- Stay alert and slow down. The greatest risk to a child isn’t riding a school bus but approaching or leaving one.
- The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous. Allow children ample space to enter and exit the bus.
For parents, MDOT offers these safety reminders:
- At the bus stop, stand at least 5 giant steps (10 feet) away from the edge of the road.
- Walk in front of the bus; never walk behind the bus.
- Be sure the bus driver can always see you, and you can see the bus driver.
- At carpool, be vigilant and watch for children moving around and in between vehicles.
Also, remember that a young child’s best defense in a wreck is an appropriate and properly installed car seat. To learn more about car seat safety and choosing the right car seat for a child, visit nhtsa.gov/TheRightSeat.
MageeNews.com is the online news source for Simpson and surrounding counties as well as the State of Mississippi