Video: School Bus Safety

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)-It’s time.  The new school year is just days away, and for some students, riding old yellow will be their transportation on the big day.

“We’re going to have a lot of small children out trying to find their bus stops along with their parents,” said Kelvin Gibson, Director of Transportation for the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District. “As they’re going to the bus stops, one of the things I’d love form them to be able to do is to really plan to be at the bus stop early the first few days of school.”

Gibson said the school bus is the safest form of transportation for the kids.

“We encourage students to ride the bus because its so safe, they’re very well built, drivers are very well trained, and our biggest thing is looking out for the people in the cars,” he said.

Gibson said drivers should always be cautious whenever they’re riding behind a school bus, especially when this sign goes out.

“When the stop sign is out, we need you to already prepare to stop,” said Gibson.

And the bus even gives fair warnings to help warn drivers of of the frequent stops.

“We have the lights flashing on the top of the bus, in the front and the rear, and we have the stop sign out and it also has flashing lights on it, but you’d be amazed hope many people just disregard that,” said Gibson.

“Running a school bus stop sign is a pretty serious traffic offense, pretty hefty fine, and plus it’s just not smart,” said Starkville Police Officer Andrew Jenkins.

Jenkins urges drivers to make sure they actually stop, not go around, when they see the stop sign come out.

Jenkins also has a few other tips for drivers to keep in mind.

“Remember they will be stopping at railroad tracks, so be careful of your distance in the car, and be aware they’ll have to stop there,” he said. “Another thing is the pure safety, buses are bigger than you.”

Drivers can not proceed until all children have crossed the street to or from the school bus.