When it comes to safety, there are not many things taken more seriously than the transportation of students. The bus system at schools must be taken into high regard. Students must be able to get to and from school safely. The people at Cameron feel the same way. Safety is a priority.

Transportation Director and Principal of Cameron High School Mr. Don Gerber said, “We have bus rules that the student has to fill out and the parent must sign before the student can ride the bus.” These rules are in place so the students know what not to do while on the bus. Too many children breaking the rules can cause trouble for the drivers and could possibly hurt the students

Bus Safety Trainer Judy Becker said, “ [The rules] Are for the child’s safety. If a child is standing up in the seat, who is to say that a dog might not run out in front of the bus, and we might have to slam on our brakes. The child might go flying over the seat.” All rules need to be followed to keep the child from harm’s way. When one of the rules is broken it must be dealt with for the child’s safety.

Mr. Gerber said, “There are consequences to breaking the rules. For example, for the first time students get a warning, then three days off the bus. It also has to do with the severity of it [the offense]. The bus driver enforces them. Our local police department also enforces them.” When the police department sees students standing on the bus, officers will talk to the students and explain why standing is a bad idea.

School Resource Officer James Proctor said, “I have talked to a couple of them [buses of students] when they stop at Parkview or the Middle School. I chat with the students and the driver about students hanging out the windows or standing up.” Just standing up while on the bus can be a distraction to the driver which could lead to an accident.

Ms. Becker said, “It’s very serious [standing up on the bus]. Our drivers are very professional, they take the safety of the children to heart. Breaking the rules on the bus can be very distracting and dangerous.”

The bus drivers and transportation directors take their job very seriously. While the rules may seem harsh, they are for the safety of the students and other drivers. The main focus of everyone involved is always the safety of the students.