Bus safety a must

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Christopher Campbell
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  It's that time of year again when children line the streets waiting for school buses, and a little driving awareness and adult instruction will make this another safe school year.

There are several differences between England and the U.S. that warrant increased diligence while driving.

"The combination of narrow roads, fog and darkness are, unfortunately, the perfect combination for dangerous driving conditions," said Lisa Thompson, Department of Defense Schools, School Liaison Officer for RAFs Feltwell, Lakenheath and Mildenhall.

The school buses in the U.K. are not the same yellow and black ones we are used to. They look like commercial coaches with one difference; they have an international school bus sign displayed on the front and rear of the bus.

"It took awhile to get used to the school buses here," said Master Sgt. Timothy Bennett, 48th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron unit security manager. "I am so used to black and yellow for school bus colors."

Drivers and pedestrians need to be cautious when around bus stops because traffic is not required to stop when the bus loads and unloads passengers.

Also according to local law, all passengers are required to wear seatbelts while on school buses in the United Kingdom.

Chaquita Collins, a medical support technician with the 48th Medical Operations Squadron said, "I always tell my children to follow all of the bus safety rules, because they are in place for a reason. I worry about my children every time they get on a bus."


Ms. Thompson stated the first instructions for bus safety should come from the parents of the children, and shared that there was a packet of helpful tips, guidelines and local laws given to the children and parents at the beginning of the school year.

Another tip from the school liaison office is to have the children stay three large steps back from the curb while waiting for their bus, and if they drop something near the bus, they need to get the bus driver's attention before retrieving it.

"Being safe doesn't start and stop once you get on the bus," said Ms. Collins. You need to be careful whenever you are near a street, and especially if buses are around."

School officials stated parents should instruct their children to listen to the bus driver at all times and follow the rules set down for them while loading, riding and unloading the bus. They also encourage parents to remind their children to look right, left and right again before crossing any street.

"Students who misbehave while riding a school bus will face penalties that could result in losing riding privileges for the entire school year," said Ms. Thompson.

The school has a list of infractions that range from minor misconduct to criminal or illegal acts with punishments of verbal warnings or school suspension and even expulsion, depending on the severity of the misconduct. An example of a minor infraction would be no bus pass or having an incorrect bus pass.

For more information from the school liaison office visit the Department of Defense School page on the RAF Lakenheath webpage at http://www.lakenheath.af.mil/departmentofdefenseschools.asp .

Remember, it is everyone's responsibility to drive safely around school bus stops and where children may be present, because whenever there are children involved, anything can happen.