Buster teaches students about bus safety
Buster and a co-worker talk to local students during a recent safety presentation. Buster, a fully animated school bus robot, goes into the elementary schools to teach all the basics to students in pre-kindergarten through third grade
(Courtesy photo)
The Buster Program is all about safety — school bus safety.
Buster, a fully animated school bus robot, goes into the elementary schools to teach all the basics to students Pre-K through third grade, James Koehler, Lake Pend Oreille School District director of transportation, said.
“With an overall message of ‘Be Safe and Stay Safe,’ Buster equips students with the skills to be safe school bus riders,” Koehler said.
Buster advises students to be ready by arriving at their stop 5 minutes early and teaches them to always wait for the bus to come to a complete stop before approaching it.
“In his friendly voice he reminds everyone that they can wait for the bus, but the bus cannot wait for them,” Koehler said. “Buster encourages students to walk to their stop safely by staying out of the road and being mindful of the world around them.”
In addition, Koehler said Buster offers students tips on safe loading and unloading procedures, the use of the handrail, the importance of using the stairs safely and never jumping off the last step. Students are taught to quietly stay seated when riding on the bus and reminded to move up at the stop before theirs, he said.
“The importance of establishing eye contact with the driver is essential in staying safe anytime anyone is around a great big yellow school bus,” Koehler said. “Students practice eye contact with the presenter while Buster moves his eyes all around for emphasis.”
Buster incorporates student participation into the presentation by utilizing student volunteers to demonstrate a safe crossover, the transportation director said. The driver's crossing signal, safe crossing distance, eye contact with the driver and the meaning of the bus lights are emphasized in this portion of the training session.
“Every bus has a danger zone — the 10-foot area around the bus where the driver cannot see,” Koehler said. “Students are taught about this danger zone and are given a visual demonstration of this area.”
The Buster Program is primarily funded by a grant from Panhandle Alliance for Education. Through the grant students receive flashlights for visibility in the dark, pencils, stickers and a school bus safety activity book that serves as a tangible reminder of the safety rules.
“The Buster Program has been in our schools for many years and has had a memorable impact on students young and old,” Koehler said.