Hardin County Sheriff’s Office Reminds Commuters to be on Alert for School Buses and Pedestrians

The Hardin County Sheriff’s Office is reminding commuters to be on alert for school buses and pedestrians now that the new school year has officially started.

They shared tips from the National Safety Council to help keep kids in the community safe.

If you’re driving behind a bus, allow a greater following distance than if you were driving behind a car.

It will give you more time to stop once the yellow lights start flashing.

Drivers are never permitted to pass a bus from behind – or from either direction if you’re on an undivided road – if it is stopped to load or unload children.

It is important to pay attention to the lights on the bus: if the yellow or red lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended, traffic must stop.

Drivers should be mindful of a safe distance between them and the bus. The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children. Drivers should stop far enough back to allow them space to safely enter and exit the bus.

Most notably, drivers should be alert at all times. Children often are unpredictable and can tend to ignore hazards and take risks.

Motorists must also be alert and aware of student pedestrians and always use extreme caution to avoid striking pedestrians wherever they may be, no matter who has the right of way.

For more tips on keeping the kids in your community safe, you can learn more at the National Safety Council’s website.