How will traffic patterns change once school begins and what should drivers look for?

With so many reports of suspicious vehicles and possible abductions circulating this summer, what can parents with children who walk to school do to ensure their safety?

A question for Dave. As a parent, how have you found its best to prepare yourself and your kids for the transition from open-ended summer to the more rigid scheduling of the school year?

Some kids have a lot of anxiety surrounding the beginning of the school year. Any tips for dealing with that?

Ho do you prepare a young child - kindergarten or first grade - to ride the bus to school? Is there someone on the bus that helps guide the little kids in their first few weeks riding? Thanks!

Dave, have you talked with your kids about the missing Evansdale girls or the reports of white vans and abduction attempts from across the state? To anyone out there reading this: How do you address these issues - making sure children understand the seriousness of staying safe and what they should do if someone approaches them - without freaking them out or causing anxiety?

Casey Speake, General Manger Durham School Services.
During the first few weeks of school, our drivers check kids on the bus to get to know names with faces. The school district does have a policy for Kindergarten kids that asks parents to meet the bus to recieve their children. If there are older students that get off the bus there as well, the older kids have been allowed to assist the kindergarten students. I do suggest that before school starts that parents walk the path from home to bus stop location with their kids so they know the route. Also on the first day, if you would be at the bus stop and see your student onto the bus and then go to the school and be there when the kindergartner gets off the bus, this reaffirms the student that they got to where they are supposed to be.

Hey Casey. As someone who works with Durham, is there any advice you can give for parents that will make serving them with buses easier for you and the districts you work with, and as a consequence, will improve your service?

Stephen,
Go over bus safety with your kids before school starts. Have kids at the bus stop on time and then after school be at the bus stop on time to recieve kids and don't wait till the last minute to make bussing arrangement. The importance of going over bus safey will improve the riding evironment for all riders, and help with the bus being on time as there will be fewer delays having to stop and deal with rowdy riders. Bus safety can really be narrowed down to 5 simple rules which are: follow the instructions of the driver promptly, remain seated at all times, keep hands/feet and objects to self, respect the rights and property of others including bus property and no eating or drinking on the bus. Open communication between the school, bus service and parents will always help make things run smoothly.

How should the drivers' of other vehicles behave if they see a school bus with flashing amber or red lights?

Casey Speake,
When drivers of other vehicles are approaching a school bus from the front, if the yellow lights are flashing be prepared to stop, when the red lights flash they must stop. When approaching a school bus from behind they must stop when either the yellow or red lights are flashing.

Here are some other safety items to teach kids:
Stay at least 10 feet away from bus at all times and do not approach the bus until the door opens. If students need to cross the street, they should wait untill the driver signals them that is safe to cross. Never try to recieve dropped items that may roll under a bus. Never try to chase or run after a bus if you are late or race the bus after you are dropped off. While waiting for the bus, remember to respect the property and belongings of others, don't throw rocks, pull grass, or pick flowers in the area (they belong to somebody else). When exiting the bus, walk directly to the sidewalk and then away from the bus and if you have to cross the street, walk 10 steps out and then 10 steps in front of bus and wait for driver to signal you it is safe to cross the street. Then look both ways to make sure and WALK, don't run across the street.