The Danger of Students Chasing Buses (Posted 3.7.22)
To: Transportation Staff
From: Steve Clark, Director of Transportation Operations
Date: Mar 7, 2022
RE: The Danger of Students Chasing Buses
Last week, there was a tragic incident in Parachute, Colorado that is a good reminder of the safety sensitive service we provide. An 11-year-old girl was running after her bus, when she tripped and fell in front of a different school bus that was behind her. That driver couldn’t stop in time and hit her. She unfortunately died from her injuries. You can read more about it here.
Please let this be a reminder to always be aware of your surroundings. If you notice a student running after your bus, that student needs to be informed of the dangers running to the bus introduces. Let the student know if they are late to the bus, they do not run to the bus; instead they will return home and their parent/guardian should call Transportation about missing the bus. If it happens in the afternoon, then the student will return to the school office and ask for help from the school staff.
In both of the above scenarios, the student is safe. Safety is our number one priority. When Transportation staff discusses the missed bus with the school or parents, we are to stress the importance of not chasing the bus and remind them of its danger.
If you have a student who is continually late and runs after the bus, please tell your supervisor so they can discuss it with the family. If you have any questions about how to handle a student who chases your bus, please ask your supervisor.
Thank you,
Steve Clark
Director of Transportation Operations
