Wenham Police Department
Thomas Perkins, Chief of Police
1 Friend Court
PO Box 536
Wenham, MA 01984
For Immediate Release
Monday, Aug. 10, 2015
Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net
Contact: Jessica Sacco
Phone: 978-769-5193
Email: jessica@jgpr.net
Wenham Police Provide School Bus Safety Tips
WENHAM — As the new academic year quickly approaches, Chief Thomas Perkins and the Wenham Police Department would like to recommend several procedures surrounding school bus safety.
“With school beginning in a month, it’s important that parents and their children go over the proper and safe way to board and exit the bus,” Chief Perkins said. “We also remind drivers to be aware of the rules of the road when buses are picking up and dropping off students.”
Students in grades one through twelve in the Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District will begin classes on September 8. Kindergartners start on September 10.
According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), approximately 400,000 students in the state are transported to school by buses every year.
School buses are a relatively safe form of transportation. DPH reports that the majority of related injuries occur to pedestrians who are boarding or exiting a bus and are hit by passing traffic or while in one of the bus driver’s blind spots. Children ages 4 to 7 are at the highest risk of injury.
Chief Perkins suggests that parents follow the safety procedures outlined by DPH to prevent accidents this school season.
- Educate children on safe bus riding and walking behaviors when getting on and off the bus.
- Teach young children to take five giant steps (10 feet) in front of the bus and to wait for the driver’s signal before crossing.
- Develop appropriate bus pick-up/drop-off policies.
- Closely supervise children under age 10 who must cross the street after exiting the bus.
The fine for illegally passing a school bus is a maximum of $200. Repeat offenders may have their licenses suspended.
###