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 Under Illinois law, Regional Offices of Education oversee bus
safety to make sure buses are in proper working order and bus
drivers have the training and skills they need to safely get kids to
and from school across millions of miles of roads around the state
every day.
The Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools (IARSS),
representing the leaders of Regional Offices of Education and
Intermediate Service Centers around the state, has prepared a series
of public service announcements for its members to distribute to
local media. The PSAs remind the public to be extra alert as school
starts back up and buses are on the road, including that drivers
must slow when amber lights are flashing, and stop when the stop
arms are extended and the red lights are flashing.
“State law is clear that drivers must take caution and stop when
buses are stopped to pick up and drop off children. But the majority
of accidents involving children injured and even killed on in public
transportation accidents happen not while students are on the school
bus, but when they are outside it,” said Pat Dal Santo, president of
the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools and
the Kane County Regional Superintendent of Schools.
“These PSAs are just one way we can try to help send a strong
message to everyone that as school starts, you must drive carefully
around schools and school buses. It only take a second for a tragic
accident to happen. Please slow down, stop when the red lights are
flashing and let’s make this the year where no one is injured
because of carelessness around school buses.”
The four PSAs being sent to Regional Superintendents are below.
Bus Safety PSA #1
Safe driving is your responsibility 365 days a year. You need to be
extra alert 176 of those days. Why? Because school buses are
transporting students to and from school. This is _____________,
Regional Superintendent of Schools reminding you to be aware of
school busses on the road. An extended stop arm and flashing red
lights are your signals to be on the alert for children loading or
unloading from a school bus. Stop and wait -- it's the law. Let’s
protect our children and be aware of school buses.
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Bus Safety PSA #2
This is _____________, Regional Superintendent of Schools,
reminding you how important it is to know and obey school bus
laws. You should know that the flashing amber lights are a
warning the bus is going to stop, and the flashing red lights
and extended stop arm mean the bus has stopped to load or unload
children. You are required by state law to obey these signals.
Please help protect the children who ride our school buses by
obeying the law.
Bus Safety PSA #3
Let's protect our children who ride our school buses! This is
_____________, Regional Superintendent of Schools, reminding you
to obey our bus laws. The majority of children injured or killed
in public transportation accidents are not injured or killed on
the school bus, but outside the school bus. Most are struck by
motorists who fail to stop for the flashing red lights and
extended stop arm. It might bother you to wait a few extra
minutes for a school bus - but it could bother you for the rest
of your life if you don't.
Bus Safety PSA #4
This is _____________, Regional Superintendent of Schools.
Yellow school buses ... flashing amber & red lights ... extended
stop arms ... these three things stand for caution, patience,
and safety. Caution and patience for you and safety for the
children of our communities. FACT - you must stop when you see
the flashing red lights and the extended stop arm on the school
bus. It is the law, but more important, you could be endangering
the life of a child by ignoring those signs. A few seconds of
patience could save a life. Protect our kids and obey the law!
[Copyright © 2014 RK PR Solutions,
All rights reserved.]
About IARSS
The Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools
represents the leaders of the state’s 44 Regional Offices of
Education and Intermediate Service Centers, which provide crucial
administrative support for Illinois schools and help more than 2
million schoolchildren get the education they need. More information
can be found at its website:
http://www.iarss.org/
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