Tallahatchie County schools and most, if not all, of their counterparts throughout the area are in session now for the 2019-20 fall term.
Once again, those big school buses are traveling hither, thither and yon, transporting some of our communities’ most precious cargo on our state highways, county roads and city streets.
With so many people leading busy lives and maintaining hectic schedules nowadays, there are more than a few possible distractions for the drivers of automobiles that might cross the path of a school bus.
Cellphone usage, which includes texting, continues to be one of the biggest causes of distracted driving accidents. In Mississippi, it is illegal to text while driving, for any number of sensible reasons — not the least of which is that it takes the driver’s eyes off the road for a length of time. An accident can occur in a split second.
In the morning and afternoon, when school buses are stopping to pick up and drop off children, we may encounter a stopped school bus with a child walking across the road just around the next bend, or just over the next hill. Keeping our eyes and minds focused on the road gives us the best chance at reacting quickly enough to avert disaster.
When a moving bus’ yellow lights begin to flash, that means it is preparing to stop. When its red stop sign arm is extended and its red lights are flashing, it has stopped and children are getting on or off the bus. It is illegal to pass a stopped school bus under those circumstances.
Lastly, we cannot assume that school bus passengers — especially younger ones — will be paying attention when they are boarding or leaving the bus and crossing a road or street, so those of us who comprise the motoring public must be diligent to help ensure their safety.
