The new school year has started, and with that brings new students riding buses. 

Washington Community School District Transportation Director Woody Harden reminds students to wear their seatbelts if their bus has them, and to remain seated when the bus is moving, “Probably the four main rules are sit down, bottom to the bottom, back to the back of the seat. Our buses, it is school district policy, that the students wear a seatbelt if they are on a seatbelt-equipped school bus. So to get on and put their seatbelt on. Then, to talk quietly with their neighbor and to listen to the bus driver.” 

When students need to cross the street after exiting their bus, they should look to the driver for a signal and always cross in front of the bus. Harden adds that now is a good time for parents to talk to their children about proper behavior on school buses and at bus stops, including no horseplay near the road. 

Motorists are also reminded to stop in both directions if they come upon a school bus with its stop sign activated to ensure safety for students who are getting onto the bus or exiting it.