Livingston Police Helping With Bus Safety

The Livingston Police Department will escort school buses to ensure the safety of students getting off the bus to start the school year.

Livingston Police Chief Ray Smith said the last thing anyone wants is a child getting hit by a vehicle. Smith said the department is working with the school to ensure the safety of students.

“We’re going to be escorting buses here in the city to help observe traffic and try to keep our students and folks safe as the buses come to a stop,” Smith said. “Because when the bus stops you don’t know if they are going to cross the lane or just going to the right where they are getting off at.”

The department will escort buses for the early part of the year until a routine is developed. Smith said parents need to prepare their kids on safety before school as accidents can happen in pickup and dropoff lines as well.

“We need to be watchful of one another,” Smith said. “Let them know that there is a lot of activity that is going to take place especially buses coming in. Other parents unloading should be vigilant and look both ways. Students should stay until a parent or Guardian guides them to where they need to be. Stay on the sidewalk areas that are made for pedestrians as they come into the schools.”

A nationwide problem is that other drivers do not stop for buses. Smith said drivers not stopping for buses is a common problem everywhere because most people don’t think about the laws when driving.

“You get in a habit of seeing them out for the school year,” Smith said. “Then the summer comes and we kind of let our guard down.”

Smith said stopping rules for buses on a 2-lane road still apply to roads that have more than 2 lanes. Smith encourages all drivers to be aware of school buses during the school year.