The New Year means new school bus safety policies are in effect across the state. George Olsen has more.
The policy approved by the state Board of Education in July will in essence turn the bus driver into a crossing guard. The driver will use a series of hand signals to alert students when it is safe to cross a street… the driver will hold a palm up indicating to wait until it’s safe to cross. When the driver determines it is, a thumbs up will be given followed by using the index finger to point in the direction the student should proceed. The safety policy is in response to five students being injured last academic year by motorists passing stopped school buses. Data indicates more than 3000 cars per day do not halt for stopped school buses. I’m George Olsen.