East Panhandle Times

Students are preparing to head back to school starting Monday, which also means yellow buses will be back on the roads.

Berkeley County Schools reminds the community to be careful on the roads and to work together to keep children safe.

This year, Berkeley County Schools will have 241 buses on the road covering 243 routes. Though it has a few drivers doubling up to cover extra routes, the transportation department has 32 active trainees this year.

Eric Keesecker, executive director of the transportation department at Berkeley County Schools, and his team are feeling positive about the new year and hope to have their trainees ready to fill in the gaps later in the school year.

As school starts, one of Berkeley County Schools’ biggest concerns is reminding drivers to stop when bus lights start flashing. The lights signal that the bus is going to stop and either pick up or drop off students. Keesecker talked about why it’s so important for the community to be reminded to be aware.

“It’s important to have a reminder because motorists haven’t seen a bus for two and half months,” he said. “The last time we’ve had a bus on the road was in May. It’s important to remind [drivers] to please be aware of their surroundings. One alarming static is that every year, West Virginia puts out a survey to track the number of illegal passes, and last year, they recorded over 2,000 in just one day. So, please look out for the yellow school bus.”

Parents and guardians can also help keep their kids safe by making sure they know how to behave at the bus stop. Staying back from the road and waiting for the right time to approach the bus will help protect students. Keesecker also advises paying attention to drivers as they are trained to direct students as they get on the bus. Practicing good behavior at the bus stop is critical to creating a safe environment for everyone.

In addition to bus safety on the roads, drivers should also pay attention to their speed when driving in a school zone. According to West Virginia law, whenever students are present, motorists should slow down in school zones. Children can be unpredictable, so by slowing down, drivers have time to react if a student runs out into the road.

“Buses are on the road from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.,” Keesecker said. “Drivers should be more aware during these times. The safety of our children is always on our mind and our goal is always to keep them safe.”