HERMISTON, Ore.-It may still feel like summer outside, but students around the region will be headed back to school next week, which can mean increased traffic, with parents dropping off and picking up students and bus routes running once again.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 976 deadly school-transportation-related crashes involving buses, cars and pedestrians between 2013 and 2022.
Drivers should be especially aware of the presence of kids and increased traffic in residential areas, near schools and in rural areas without sidewalks for students to walk on, according to the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office.
NHTSA is urging parents to teach students how to be SAFE around school buses ahead of the new school year.
SAFE
- Stay at least five feet from the curb
- Always wait for the bus to come to a complete stop and the driver to signal for you to get on or off
- Face forward after finding a seat on the bus
- Exit when the bus makes a complete stop and always look both ways before crossing the street
Back-to-school season is also a good time for parents to go over some safety basics with their children who will be walking to or from school, including always looking both ways before crossing the street, never taking shortcuts through traffic, and putting phones away while walking.
Drivers should also be alert of their surroundings, obey reduced speed limits in school zones and know what the lights on school buses indicate, according to NHTSA.
School bus safety for drivers
- Flashing yellow lights: The bus is preparing to stop to load or unload students so drivers should slow down
- Red flashing lights: The bus is stopped to pick up or drop off students. Drivers in front or behind the bus must stop until the STOP sign on the bus is completely retracted and the bus begins to move
The Hermiston School District is partnering with BusPatrol, an AI-powered bus safety program, to equip all FirstStudent buses in the district with multi-lens stop-arm camera systems to record vehicle details of cars illegally passing buses this school year.
The recorded information will be securely shared with local law enforcement for review before citations are possibly issued, according to the HSD.
Slowing down and remembering a few safety tips when behind the wheel can help ensure the school year gets off to a safe start.
First days of school around the region
- Hermiston School District: August 27
- Umatilla School District: August 25 (grades 1-3 and 7-9), August 26 all students
- Pendleton School District: August 26
- Morrow County School District: August 25
- Athena-Weston School District: September 2
- Pilot Rock School District: August 25
- Helix School District: August 25
- La Grande School District: August 25 (grades K-7 and 9), August 26 (grades 8, 10-12)
- Baker School District: August 25
- Milton-Freewater School District: August 25 (grades 1-6, 9), August 26 (grades 7,8 and 10-12)
