The U.S. Senate voted unanimously to endorse the Child Safety Network’s Safe Bus campaign, after “many months of effort and review by various federal committees,” participants reported.
The School Bus Safety Month Resolution, Senate Resolution 603, passed Sept. 6 and covers school bus activities, technologies, apps and curriculum. It also designates September 2018 as “School Bus Safety Month.”
It was sponsored by Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) and introduced in August.
“The purpose is for parents, students, teachers, motorists, and school bus drivers to promote the importance of school bus safety,” said CSN in a statement. “School districts throughout the country choose one week in October to observe school bus safety. However, CSN Safe Bus provides resources and technology to improve school bus safety all year round. Broadcasters are encouraged to promote public service announcements throughout the year to reduce student injuries and make all school bus transportation safer from preventable accidents.”
CSN and the National PTA jointly said they are “proud to promote the goals and mission of School Bus Safety Month by providing resources that increase the safety of 26 million students as they are transported 5.6 billion miles each year on over 500,000 school buses (our nation’s largest form of public transportation).”
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This effort joins another already in place that focuses on school bus safety around the start of each new school year. The National Association of Pupil Transportation designates the third full week of October as School Bus Safety Week. NAPT says it is “an excellent way for parents, students, teachers, motorists, school bus operators, school administrators, and other interested parties to join forces and address the importance of school bus safety.” The theme for 2018 is “My Driver—My Safety Hero!”
Many school districts and bus contracting companies take this opportunity to bring attention to the topic of safe behavior on and around school buses through fun activities for students.
Editor’s Note: If your school bus operation is observing School Bus Safety Week, email information and pictures to claudia@stnmedia.com and they may be featured at our website.
