The Allegany County Public Schools Transportation Department promotes school bus safety to young riders by utilizing Buster the Bus, a school bus robot that helps administrators teach the important lessons of school bus safety. Buster is a fully animated remote-controlled robot that moves, speaks, listens, and activates his lights and stop arm. He can even wink, blink, and move his eyes. On Monday, October 10, 2022, Buster and ACPS Supervisor of Transportation, HB Martz, visited pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students at West Side Elementary School to teach students about danger zones, how to wait for, ride, and get on and off a school bus safely, and how to sit properly while on the bus.

“Buster the Bus is a special program geared towards this specific age group of children and those who have never ridden a bus before,” said HB Martz. “Buster helps to provide an entertaining twist on safety.”

Several of the important school bus rules covered by Mr. Martz included listening to the bus driver, being at the bus stop on time, remaining on the curb or away from the street while waiting for the bus, using the handrails to get on and off of the bus, staying seated the entire ride, talking quietly on the bus, keeping the aisles clear, and always looking both ways when crossing the street or in front of a school bus. Each student received a complimentary activity book to help remind them of these rules. Additionally, Martz asked several student and teacher volunteers to demonstrate how to obey school bus rules.

Riding on the school bus is fun, but safety always comes first. National School Bus Safety Week is recognized from October 17-21, 2022, this year, and is an opportunity to educate students, parents, and the public about the importance of school bus safety.