RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
Base officials have taken steps to ensure a safe start to the school year when Randolph Field Independent School District resumes classes Monday.
To help base motorists better recognize school buses, the 12th Logistics Readiness Division added retractable red stop signs to the left side of blue and white Air Force buses that transport base elementary school students.
Drivers must come to a complete stop in both lanes of traffic when a school bus is loading and unloading students with its stop sign extended, whether a yellow or blue, according to traffic law.
Mark Restly, 12th LRD vehicle operations supervisor, said motorists sometimes drove around blue and white school buses when they were stopped in the past.
"Drivers didn't always treat the blue and white buses as school buses, like they do the yellow ones that transport middle and high school students," Mr. Restly said. "As a result, there were some concerns last year."
Children could potentially be hit near a school bus, because they have little experience with traffic and assume motorists will wait for them to cross.
Linda Howlett, 12th Flying Training Wing ground safety officer, said most injuries to child passengers occur within 10 feet of the bus.
"Children like to run, dodge and dart around cars," she said. "Sometimes they run in front of traffic and don't always use approved crosswalks and there aren't many sidewalks near the elementary school. Also, the street lighting here on base isn't that bright, so it's imperative to watch the road for children when school buses are in the area."
Elementary school bus representatives will be available to meet with parents during the "Meet The Teachers" get-together Friday from 4-5 p.m. at Randolph Elementary School.
In addition to motorists being mindful of buses, they must also pay attention at base crosswalks. Most of the crossings used by children have been marked with in-ground flashing lights, but people driving in the north central area of the base between the elementary school and base housing south of Building 100, the "Taj," should be especially careful in the morning and afternoon when students are going to and from school. The sun rising in the morning also creates a unique challenge and the glare can "washout' visual cues such as bus stops and cross walks, as well as, children near or crossing the street.
A child was slightly injuredd by a car near the Taj last school year, and officials do not want anything close to that happening again.
"Even though that crosswalk was lit, the glare from the low morning sun obscured the driver's vision," Ms. Howlett said. "Therefore, drivers should not take anything for granted and should remain extra vigilant during the morning and afternoon hours, and especially at all crossings. Security Forces will also be out to enforce traffic safety."