National School Bus Safety week starts Monday

COLUMBUS — The Ohio State Highway Patrol reminds children and motorists that National School Bus Safety Week runs Monday through Oct. 24.

This year’s theme, “Stop on Red, Kids Ahead,” reminds motorists that they are required to stop for stopped school buses that are displaying flashing red lights and an extended stop arm. When buses are stopped, kids are either getting on or off the school bus and motorists need to pay extra attention to children crossing the roadways. Motorists approaching from either direction are required to stop at least 10 feet from a stopped school bus until the bus resumes motion. If a school bus is stopped on a road divided into four or more lanes, only traffic driving in the same direction as the bus must stop.

“While school buses remain the safest mode of travel on Ohio roadways, school bus crashes do occur,” said Col. Richard H. Collins, patrol superintendent. “In 2007, there were five crashes resulting in motorist fatalities and a total of 1,786 crashes involving school buses around Ohio.”