School is back. Let's watch out for the kids.

According the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration, from 2010 to 2019 there were 1,080 school transportation related crashes and 1,199 people of all ages killed in those crashes... an average of 120 fatalities per year.  And, from 2010 to 2019 more school-age pedestrians were killed from 3 p.m. to 3:59 p.m. and from 7 a.m. to 7:59 a.m. than any other hours of the day.

This time of year with kids back in school, let's all remember a few rules of the road from the Department of Transportation.

If you are driving, remember these simple rules:

Yellow flashing lights on a school bus mean slow down, don’t speed up because the bus is preparing to stop. There are likely students waiting to get on the bus or parents waiting nearby to pick up children.

Red flashing lights mean stop and wait at least 20 feet behind the bus because children are getting on or off the school bus. Stay stopped until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop-arm is withdrawn, and the bus begins moving.

Even when lights aren’t flashing, watch for children, particularly in the morning or mid-afternoon, around school arrival and dismissal times. Be alert as you back out of a driveway, or drive through a neighborhood, school zone or bus stop.

Parents - talk bus safety with your children.

Your child should arrive at the bus stop at least 5 minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive. Teach them to play it SAFE:

Stay five steps away from the curb.

Always wait until the bus comes to a complete stop and the bus driver signals for you to board.

Face forward after finding a seat on the bus.

Exit the bus after it stops and look left-right-left for cars before crossing a street.

If you or a family member has been injured in a school transportation accident, call PSRB today. We can help.

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