The Lafayette Parish School System is celebrating 'Love the Bus: Bus Safety and Driver Appreciation Week' March 24 – March 28, 2014. Our school buses travel approximately 2.5 million miles a year, transporting 18,300 students twice each school day.

Festivities will include a recognition lunch/program on Friday, March 28th at David Thibodaux STEM Academy, beginning at 10 AM.  But everyone can promote the safety of pupil transportation and get involved!
Students can keep themselves safe while riding a bus by following these simple rules for students, parents and drivers from the Lafayette Parish School System:

1. Cooperate with the driver; your safety depends on it.
2. Be on time; the bus will not wait.
3. Cross the road cautiously under the direction of the driver when boarding and leaving the bus.
4. Follow the driver's instructions when loading and unloading.
5. Remain quiet enough not to distract the driver.
6. Have written permission and be authorized by the principal to get on or off at a stop other than the designated stop.
7. Remain seated at all times when the bus is in motion.
8. Keep arms, head or other objects inside the bus at all times.
9. Refrain from throwing objects in the bus or out of the windows or doors. Use emergency exits only for emergencies, and when instructed to do so.
10. Refrain from eating or drinking on the bus.
11. Avoid the use or possession of tobacco, matches, cigarette lighters, obscene materials, weapons, drugs, or other prohibited items on the bus.
12. Take no glass objects or other objects on the bus, if prohibited by state, federal, or other local school board policies.
13. Take no band instruments, projects and other projects too large or too hazardous to be held by the passenger or stowed safely under the seat.
14. Refrain from damaging the bus in any way.
15. Be courteous and safety-conscious.
16. Protect your personal riding privilege, and enjoy the ride.
Parents can keep their children safe on a bus by keeping up with these simple responsibilities:
1. Be familiar with and follow local board and school level policies for school bus transportation.
2. Have children ready and at their designated pick-up points along the route.
3. Cooperate with the school and bus driver in teaching children safety precautions and good manners and habits for school bus passengers.
4. Assist when there are disciplinary problems.
5. Avoid detaining the driver on the route.
6. Avoid contacting drivers to change schedules, routes assignments, bus stops, etc. (If a problem arises, contact the principal or the Transportation Dept.)
7. Assist the school district in monitoring safe access to passengers by keeping bus loading and unloading zones free of parked vehicles, trash or debris, by keeping vegetation trimmed, etc.
Drivers on the road can keep passengers and drivers of a bus safe by following these simple laws:
1. Drivers must stop at least 30 ft. from a stopped school bus that is loading or unloading children
2. Drivers must stop for a stopped school bus when traveling on four or five lane roadways which are not separated by any barriers.
3. When stopped drivers must not proceed until the bus moves again or the visual warning signals are no longer in use.
4. Drivers should note that when the strobe light on a bus is flashing that indicates that there are students on the bus, so please use extra caution.

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