National School Bus Safety Week, Oct. 17-21, 2011
The yellow school bus is an icon in our society. It speaks of safety and security and a solid and wholesome education for our children. Yet every day, over 50,000 motorists illegally pass school buses that are stopped with red flashing lights engaged as they pick up or drop off children.
The number of illegal passes that occur across that nation and in our state, alone, is alarming. Despite school districts' best efforts with local police and law enforcement agencies, the problem continues and is worsened by the fact that motorists are passing on the passenger or curb side of the school bus in increasing numbers.
State Law requires that all motorists in all directions on all roads come to a complete stop when approaching a school bus with its red lights flashing. The school bus in these instances is like a traffic control device, not unlike the familiar stop light at intersections. When school bus lights are red, drivers are all supposed to stop and be alert for children approaching or leaving the school bus.
Illegal passing injures numerous children each year which is why DCS is urging all motorists during the School Bus Safety Week, and beyond, to remember the law and, most of all, to remember the children and stop when you see red lights flashing on a school bus.
Transportation department dedication
The school bus safety and security that is delivered to our students does not come easily. In fact, it requires the dedication and hard work of many professionals in the Duanesburg Transportation Department.
"We are proud of the record of school bus safety we have attained for our students and for our taxpayers," says Transportation Manager Harry Folckemer. "It couldn't be done without our dedicated and trained professionals who make up the transportation department."
Duanesburg Transportation Department mechanics work hard every day to inspect and maintain the fleet of Duanesburg school buses. DCS drivers are trained and prepared to transport DCS students through all kinds of traffic and weather and to respond to their needs as they drive them to and from school and school-related events.
DCS routers and dispatchers strive to find the fastest, safest and most efficient ways to get children from school to home. And our trainers ensure that our team is ready to do their job with excellence and efficiency.
We are also proud to say that in recent years we have taken many steps to make our operations even more efficient and continue to this day to identify ways to conserve precious resources that are provided by our taxpayers. This includes reviewing and adjusting our bus routes on a constant basis and eliminating idling of buses that wastes fuel and incorporating preventive maintenance efforts that will save our district in the long term.
During School Bus Safety Week, DCS transportation staff will be at the elementary school educating students and teachers alike about bus safety and security. If you have any questions for the DCS transportation staff, please contact Harry Folckemer at hfolckemer@duanesburg.org.