Safety on the School Bus

(New York - WABC, September 15, 2006) (WABC) -- School bus safety. It's an important and potentially life saving lesson for students. In fact, schools in New York and New Jersey are required to have drills for students on what to do in case of an emergency. But would your child know exactly what to do?

Students at the Manetuck Elementary School are being taught that the rear emergency exit of a school bus could someday make a difference.

Rebecca Wentzel, a student, say she feels prepared for a school bus emergency in case something bad happens.

The West Islip School District conducts these drills three times a year, at all nine of its schools, for grades K through 12.

Dr. Beth Virginia Blau, the superintendent, says the school bus drills reflect the priorities of the schools and the community.

New York State requires safety drills, but many other school district do not comply, even though the drills couldn't be more important.

The state education department says drills should be periodically conducted, "including practice and and instruction in the location, use and operation of the emergency door, and windows as a means of escape in case of fire or accident."

And school bus accidents are not uncommon, sometimes requiring the use of emergency exits.

Frank Gerace, a parent advocate, says the ideal is for safety procedures to become second nature for students and bus drivers.

Gerace heads the parent group called "SchoolWatch," which recently surveyed a number of school districts on their bus safety drills. He says that out of 60 districts surveyed, only three were found to be in full compliance.

But there are no real penalties for not conducting the drills.

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