Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) has written to local yeshiva administrators asking them to review their current school bus safety procedures, particularly as it pertains to children standing on moving school buses. An unofficial survey of school buses conducted over the past several months by both Hikind and his staff revealed a great number of students were not properly seated on school buses. Rather, children were standing at or on their seats, were facing the rear of the bus, or were crowded together with their classmates near the emergency exit door.
“Imagine what might happen if these buses are forced to make a sudden stop,” Hikind wrote. “Children who are standing can be thrown about, causing serious injury to themselves or others. As you prepare for the upcoming school year, I urge you to review your bus transportation protocol.”
While Hikind acknowledges that students need to do their part by remaining seated on a moving school bus, he believes the ultimate responsibility for ensuring student safety on the bus lies with the driver. “Kids are not going to police themselves,” Hikind noted. “I recognize that a bus driver might have to contend with dozens of children on his bus, some of whom may be behaving in an unruly fashion. Nevertheless, the task of enforcing a seating rule really falls under the purview of the bus driver.”
Hikind intends to follow-up with the yeshiva administrators in September to determine if new bus safety strategies have been drafted and implemented.
(YWN Desk – NYC)
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5 Responses
i told my son that it does not matter if everyone else on the bus is standing but he should sit down in his seat because of safety reasons. My son is the only one that is usually sitting like a mensh.
This is about parenting and the drivers should also enforce their rules since they are the responsible party if something chas v’sholom happens.
It is a disgrace what I see on school busses day and day out.
Drivers should also drive like humn beings and stop running red lights. I have countless times where I saw drivers cut other cars off and get into accidents.
Dov Hikind is 100% right on this issue and anyone screaming for safety is also right!
Rabbi Shapiro from Bais yakov in Boro Prk has been screaming about this issue for years and even had meetings but nobody listens to common sense safety suggestions. Lets hope this is not a loosing battle. What will it take for parents and drivers to understand that safety is a priority and things can happen to OUR kids not OTHERS. everyone things accidents only happen to others.
I recognize that a bus driver might have to contend with dozens of children on his bus, some of whom may be behaving in an unruly fashion. Nevertheless, the task of enforcing a seating rule really falls under the purview of the bus driver.”+
IT STARTS AT HOME FIRST . PARENTS SHOULD TEACH THERE KIDS CAR SAFETY FROM A VERY YOUNG AGE AND BE STRICT ABOUT IT AND THEN THE KIDS MITE BEHAVE ON THE SCHOOL BUS . CHILDREN SHOULD NOT BE SITTING ON LAPS IN A CAR . THEY SHOULD BE IN THERE OWN SEAT .
THE BUS DRIVER HAS TO KNOW THAT IF KIDS BECOME WILD AND DON’T BEHAVE HE SHOULD BE ABLE TO PULL THE BUS OVER FOR TEN TO FIFTEEN MINUTES SO THE KIDS CAN COOL DOWN AND WHEN THEY COME LATE TO SCHOOL THE PRINCIPLE SHOULD BE READY TO PUNISH THOSE UNRULY KIDS SEVERELY , BY NOT LETTING THEM TAKE THE BUS FOR A FEW DAYS AND MAYBE THEN THEY WILL KNOW HOW TO BEHAVE AND SIT ON A BUS.
IF WE ARE SO CONCERNED ABOUT THE KIDS BEING SAFE ON THE BUS THEN THE BUS SHOULD BE DRIVEN ACCORDING TO THE LAW ,WHICH MEANS THAT BUSES SHOULD NOT BE CROSSING THE DOUBLE YELLOW LINE TO PICK UP KIDS. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SHOULD ENFORCE THE LAWS WHEN IT COMES TO PICKING UP OUR PRECIOUS LITTLE KIDS AND HAVE UNMARKED CARS FOLLOWING THE SCHOOL BUSES GIVING OUT TICKETS TO THE CAR AND BUS DRIVERS WHO DON’T DRIVE SAFELY , AND THEN YOU WILL SEE HOW FAST THIS PROBLEM WILL GO AWAY.
I absolutely agree with Dov Hikind. There should be more vigilance when it comes to safety. Alas it costs money which there is precious little of.
Your Sister says:
June 3, 2010 at 12:43 pm
I absolutely agree with Dov Hikind. There should be more vigilance when it comes to safety. Alas it costs money which there is precious little of.
IF YOU READ #2 THAT DOES NOT COST MONEY
How about the driving habits of some of the bus drivers? As a group they are only slightly less dangerous that the Russian car service drivers. Both groups believe that traffic law are mere suggestions.