Dade County Schools Transportation Director: Bus Safety Starts With Education and Awareness

As school buses travel the valleys and mountains of Dade County each morning and afternoon, keeping students safe requires more than trained drivers and well-maintained vehicles. It takes a community-wide commitment from other motorists, parents and students alike, according to John Smith, Director of Facilities and Transportation for Dade County Schools.

One of the most serious concerns facing school transportation is cars illegally passing stopped school buses while students are loading or unloading, and it happens more often than it should, Smith said.

“Motorists are often in a hurry and do not want to be held up,” Smith said. “There have been instances where vehicles have come around the bus and passed while students were loading and unloading.”

Those moments, he said, are among the most dangerous parts of a student’s school day. While school buses are designed with multiple safety features, students are most vulnerable when they are entering or exiting the bus and may not be fully aware of passing cars.

While each bus is equipped with a camera, because it’s exclusively rear facing, it’s unable to capture the license plate of offending drivers who pass the bus from behind, he said. 

Smith said parents can play an important role by talking with their children about bus safety and reinforcing the lessons drivers teach every day.

“Any conversation would be good,” he said. “I think some of the best conversations could be had by researching bus accidents. Drivers train students to always look at the driver for a hand signal prior to approaching the bus to load or entering a roadway after unloading.”

School bus crashes killed 128 people nationwide in 2023, a 23 percent increase from 104 deaths in 2022, according to national data from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Despite those figures, safety experts say students are about 70 times more likely to get to school safely on a bus than in a passenger car.

Drivers in Dade County Schools receive extensive training focused on keeping students safe in traffic. When a driver sees a vehicle approaching illegally, they are trained to use the bus horn as a warning signal. Students are taught that when they hear the horn, they should immediately stop and look to the driver for direction.

“Drivers are trained to never open the door of the bus and allow students to unload until they have checked all their mirrors to ensure traffic is stopped in both directions,” Smith said.

In addition to driver training and student instruction, transportation officials are urging motorists to follow basic safety practices around school buses and in school zones. Drivers should always stop when a school bus extends its stop arm or flashes red lights and should never pass a bus on the right, which is both illegal and dangerous. Motorists are also encouraged to stay alert in school zones and near bus stops, watch carefully for children walking or biking, especially in areas without sidewalks, and allow extra time during school hours to avoid rushing. Officials also stress the importance of avoiding distractions and remaining focused on the road, particularly during morning and afternoon pickup times when students are most likely to be near traffic.

While driver training and student instruction are critical, Smith said public awareness is just as important. He believes education and outreach can help reduce dangerous behavior around school buses.

“I think educating the public about bus safety through various platforms is a great start,” he said.

Smith also pointed to changes in state law that reflect how seriously school bus safety is taken. House Bill 1284, commonly known as “Addy’s Law,” was passed following a serious bus accident and encourages school systems to load and unload students only on the door side of the bus on roads with speed limits of 40 miles per hour or higher. Dade County Schools has adjusted its bus routes to follow that guidance wherever possible.

“Every year across the country, there are bus accidents that involve vehicles running school bus stop signs,” Smith said. “Safety is our number one priority. The rules we have on school buses are connected to the safety of our students. We never want to experience bus accidents, whether minor or serious.”

Protecting students requires everyone to do their part, he said. Drivers must stay alert and stop when school buses are loading or unloading. Parents should talk with their children about safe behavior at bus stops and around roadways. Students should follow driver instructions and stay focused when getting on and off the bus.

“Safety is not just the responsibility of the driver,” Smith said. “Whether you’re a parent, a motorist, or a student, understanding and respecting the rules around school buses keeps our community safe.”