School-bus safety initiative gets going

The sixth annual, monthlong “Flashing Red Kids Ahead” school-bus safety campaign is underway.

The Arkansas Department of Education, Arkansas Association of Pupil Transportation and Arkansas School Bus Mechanics Association are the sponsors of the campaign.

“It is important for all motorists to know that it is illegal to pass a stopped school bus when its red lights are flashing,” Jerry Owens, the senior transportation manager at the Public School Academic Facilities and Transportation Division, said last week.

Earlier this year, school bus drivers were asked to report the number of motorists who on a single day in April illegally passed their buses. More than 3,200 Arkansas drivers reported more than 850 instances of motorists illegally passing a stopped school bus that day.

“Through the ‘Flashing Red Kids Ahead’ campaign, our goal is to educate all motorists about the importance of obeying all traffic laws, including those involving school buses,” Owen said. “The safety of our students depends on it.

“As the 2018-2019 school year begins, about 350,000 youngsters around Arkansas will be boarding one of about 7,000 school buses every day,” Gov. Asa Hutchinson said. “When you see the flashing red lights on a stopped school bus, that means children are crossing the street, and state law requires drivers to stop. We owe our children a future, and one of the most basic contributions to their future is to ensure that they get to school and back home safely. ‘Flashing Red Kids Ahead.’ Easy to say. Vital to remember.”