It might seem strange to need instructions on how to cross the street, but it is done a little differently when you ride a school bus. There is more to it than looking both ways. Let's start with picking up children that must cross the street to get on the bus.

The students are waiting in a safe area back from the road. The bus approaches with yellow warning lights flashing. After the bus has stopped, the driver will raise their hand in the window; arm extended, with their palm facing the students. This is the signal to stop and not move yet.

Next the driver will open the door which will start the red flashing warning lights to go on. This is a warning to all traffic that the bus is about to pick up or drop off students.

The driver checks traffic to make sure everyone is stopped and it is safe to cross. Then they will drop their hand out of site to signal that it is safe to cross.



Now it is safe to cross the street, after you have looked both ways yourself.

Next we will go over the drop off procedure. It's just a little different.

Naturally, you will wait until the bus comes to a complete stop before you stand up to get off at your stop. After you get off the bus, you will wait on the curb at least 10 feet in front of the bus until everyone is off and is standing in a group.
The driver's hand will be in the window, just like before. When they drop their hand out of site you may start to cross.

Here is the different part;

You must stop to check traffic yourself before you step out from in front of the bus .

This is very important. Too many times, a driver of a vehicle will decide that they don't want to wait, or don't want to obey the law an so they pass the school bus---yes, even while the lights are going and other traffiC is stopped.

What happens then???

Always look both ways and check for yourself that it is safe to cross.

That's it! Easy right? A real no brainer. Now if we could just get some of those drivers to understand what's going on.