IT’S OUR JOB TO SPEAK UP FOR SCHOOL BUS SAFETY
Every October, MASS raises awareness about stopping for school buses during National School Bus Safety Week. This year we chose the
theme “30 Seconds Can Save a Lifetime” because 30 seconds is the average time it takes for students to get on or off their school
buses at bus stops.
Awareness week occurs in October for a good reason. This is the time of year when daylight hours start getting shorter, and many students are picked up early in the morning when it’s still dark and visibility is lower. It’s important for drivers to be extra cautious when they encounter school buses and to stop when signaled.
To most people, especially those of us who’ve invested our lives and careers in public education, making the right decision at a school bus stop is so obvious that we probably don’t think about bringing up the subject with others. But that is absolutely what we should be doing.
Just spending a few moments reminding others could help prevent tragedies. This year, we’re asking everyone to take active roles in our “30 Seconds Can Save a Lifetime” campaign by using whatever forums are available — classrooms, churches, sports activities, neighborhood groups, civic clubs, the dinner table — to talk about school bus safety.
Kids are counting on us to make sure they get to school and return home safely every day, just like each of us did. Please make sure the people in your life know what to do when they encounter stopped school buses. The future belongs to those students, and it’s up to us to protect it for them.
Phillip G Burchfield
Executive Director
