School Bus safety

Medford, Ore — With some schools already back in session and the vast majority heading back next week Police are urging the public to keep an eye out on the roads.

As the school year fast approaches you’re going to be seeing a lot more buses on the roads. So we asked, what are the rules in and around school buses?

Between home and the classroom thousands of Southern Oregon children will spend their time on the school bus.

“We have 16 elementary schools, two middle school, two high schools and several charter schools,” said Julie Clemence with First Student.

With all those students it’s important to be aware of the rules of the road when it comes to approaching a school bus.

“When you come upon a bus that’s stopping on a four lane road and the red lights are on you do need to stop, unless there’s a physical barrier that you cannot cross,” said Clemence.

According to AAA nearly a third of fatalities to child pedestrians occur after school hours, when most children are heading home.

Nearly 13,000 were injured nationwide in 2013.

“School’s in session, slow down, pay attention,” said Sgt. Don Lane with Medford Police.

Medford police say they’ll be extra vigilant in keeping children safe.

“Watch out for the school buses, when you see them be aware, kids are unpredictable, they may do odd things, so slow down, pay attention,” said Sgt. Lane.

Watch out for railroad crossings, as all buses stop at them. Slow down in school zones and watch for the lights.

“When we are stopping at a stop we will open our doors which activates the red lights and that means the kids are going to be getting off and they really need to watch for that.”

In the end both bus drivers and police say the best thing to do is be aware, and be patient.

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Matt Jordan is the Chief Meteorologist for KOBI-TV NBC5. Matt joined the NBC5 weather team in 2014 after a year as a reporter and anchor in Alexandria, Louisiana. His experience with the severe weather of the Deep South and a love of the Pacific Northwest led him to pursue a certification with Mississippi State University as a Broadcast Meteorologist. You can find Matt working in the evenings of NBC5 News at 5, 6 and 11 as well as online. Matt also has a degree in Journalism from the University of Oregon. In addition to being passionate about news and weather, Matt is a BIG Oregon Ducks fan. When not rooting for the Ducks or tracking down the next storm over the Pacific, Matt can be found outdoors in the Oregon wilderness with his wife, his daughter and their dogs Stanley and Gordi.
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