More than 30 times since the school year began, drivers have passed stopped school buses with their red lights flashing in Churchill County. The number is a reminder that school bus safety isn't just a concern for parents and students. It affects everyone who shares the road.
According to Churchill County School District in an online post, National School Bus Safety Week runs from October 19-23, and the district is using the week to highlight the importance of stopping for school buses and protecting students.
The warning applies to drivers throughout Nevada, not just those traveling near schools. Under Nevada law, drivers in all lanes must stop when a school bus flashes its red lights unless a physical median separates traffic. The district said there are no bus stops in Churchill County with a median.
The district is highlighting a different school bus safety focus each day this week. One of the most important reminders is straightforward: When a school bus stops and its red lights begin flashing, drivers must stop rather than attempt to pass.
The National Association for Pupil Transportation recognizes National School Bus Safety Week each year during the third full week of October. The effort brings together transportation professionals, students, families, educators, and communities to reinforce the importance of keeping students safe on and around school buses.
This year's theme is "Safe Rides, Everyday Heroes." The week also recognizes the professionals who transport students and features a national poster contest that gives children an opportunity to promote school bus safety through their artwork.
Churchill County School District is urging drivers to slow down, pay attention, and eliminate distractions behind the wheel. Those precautions matter throughout the region, whether drivers are traveling through school zones, neighborhood streets, or other roads where school buses pick up and drop off students.
With the school year less than two months underway, the more than 30 reported passing incidents serve as a reminder for drivers across the area and throughout the region to follow the law and put student safety first.
(Churchill County School District contributed to this story.)
