DETERMINING BUS STOPS
While rules don't always cover the "gray areas," determinations regarding the suitability of bus stops are primarily governed by Florida Statutes and School Board Rule. In planning bus stops, we consider State Law, Board Rules, and
1. The safety of the bus stop.
2. The ability of the bus stop to serve nearby residences with maximum efficiency (time, taxpayer money).
3. The impact on other students served by the bus stop.
With the exception of trunk route stops, the Transportation Department is also guided by Florida Statutes in terms of the maximum distances from home to the bus stop and by the need to avoid having children walk across four lanes of traffic through medians greater than five feet in width.
Please remember that School Board Rule requires that parents take full responsibility for the safe movement of their children between the home and the bus stop and their safety at the bus stop while awaiting bus transportation. Therefore, if parents are concerned about their children's ability to walk safely from home to the bus stop, they should necessary arrangements to ensure their safety.
6.07 SCHOOL BUS STOP SAFETY
(1) Bus Stop Intervals.
In general, for the safety of transported students and in consideration of highway users, school bus stops shall not be made at intervals closer than onefourth (1/4) mile. School bus stops shall be made at locations affording the greatest degree of safety for students waiting for a bus and protection of the bus and its passengers while loading or unloading students. School bus stops shall not be made at hazardous locations for the convenience of students.
(2) Loading and Unloading Safety.
School bus operators shall instruct students in the correct procedure for loading and unloading and shall supervise the activities of students leaving the bus until the students have crossed the highway, or are otherwise not subject to hazards.
(3) FourLane Highways.
On certain highways having four or more lanes of traffic and a median strip five (5) or more feet wide, school bus routes shall be designated in such manner that students will be picked up and unloaded without the necessity of their crossing the highway. Before such bus routing plan is implemented, the Board shall designate those roads or highways that qualify for double routing and, when so designated, buses shall be routed in such manner that a bus will not make a “U” turn on the main traveled portion of the roadway. If necessary, “U” turns shall be made either by the school bus leaving the road at a safe place, turning around and reentering the roadway, or making a “U” turn where the width of the median strip exceeds the length of the bus. No double routing shall be approved for roads or highways where stopandgo traffic control devices are in use, where an officer is directing traffic, or where the roadway has less than four traffic lanes.
(4) Accident Reporting.
Personnel aware of accidents shall report immediately to the Transportation Department any accident involving a transported student when the accident occurs while the student is entering into or alighting from the bus, while crossing the road at the bus stop, or while the student is actually on the bus.
(5) Registered Sexual Offenders.
Upon notification by law enforcement of the existence of a registered sexual offender, the Court Liaison Department shall immediately provide the Director of Transportation with a complete profile of the offender. Transportation staff shall plot the residence of the registered offender on the master routing map and assess all stop locations for all routes in the area and initiate stop change procedures to relocate any stop that requires students to travel past the identified residence when enroute to or from an established stop not in the walk zone. Further, stops shall not be situated within 1,000 feet of a registered offender’s residence unless the stop services a student residing at the offender’s location. In this event, only the residing student may utilize the stop. Transportation staff shall alert schools of any stop changes in reaction to a sexual offender’s location and shall, as a redundant measure, alert school staff on any offender notification for an offender residing within the school walk zone.
Statutory Authority: Sections 1001.32; 1001.41; 1006.21, 947.1405(7)(a)2., F.S.
Law Implemented: Sections 1006.22; 947.1405(7)(a)2., F.S.
History: Revised/Amended: 05/26/92; 08/23/94; 11/20/01; 11/18/03; 07/19/05; 12/18/07
6.09 RESPONSIBILITIES
(3) Parents/Guardians of Transported Children
Parents/Guardians whose children are transported at public expense shall:
A. Ascertain and ensure that their children arrive at the bus stop on time.
B. Provide necessary protection for their children in going to, from and at bus stops.
C. Accept joint responsibilit y wit h school authorit ies for proper conduct of their children.
D. Make a reasonable effort to understand and cooperate with those responsible fostudent transportation.
E. Pay for any damage to a bus or equipment caused by acts of vandalism of their children.
F. Parents/Guardians of PreK students transported aboard District buses shall comply with established District PreK Transportation Guidelines.
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For Escambia District School Board Rules governing school bus transportation, click HERE.
For Florida Statutes governing school bus transportation, click HERE.
For Florida School Board Rules governing school bus transportation, click HERE.