The West Shore ESD and our transportation consultant Katrina Morris have a tight connection to this year's "National Bus Safety Week" awareness campaign, running from October 20-24.
Our ESD, area school districts, and many organizations from across the country are joining together, including Michigan Association for Pupil Transportation, the National School Transportation Association, Roush Fenway Keselowski (RFK) Racing, Blue Bird Corporation and ROUSH CleanTech have partnered to remind motorists that stopping for a school bus is not optional—it’s the law and a matter of life and death.
To generate greater awareness, RFK Racing driver Ryan Preece appears in a new video campaign showing that even professional drivers put student safety first and stop for school buses.
This puts the safety of students going to and from school at risk.
"The illegal passing of stopped school buses continues to be the greatest safety danger to children every year,” said President Mike Stier of National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS).
This year's campaign sponsors hope they can help reverse this sad fact.
“Every time a driver illegally passes a stopped school bus, they put a child’s life at risk,” said Katrina Morris, Executive Director at Michigan Association for Pupil Transportation. “Stopping for a school bus takes only a few seconds, but it can prevent a lifetime of heartache. We urge all motorists to slow down, stay alert, and always stop when red lights are flashing.”
RFK Racing driver Ryan Preece and Katrina Morris, WSESD Transportation Consultant
Here's the link to view the 30-second National School Bus Safety Week's PSA Video: