SAFETY BITS Transportation has a new friend called "Buster." He is an interactive new addition to our staff. He will be glad to come to your school and teach safety bus procedures to your elementary school children. Please call Harold Sprawls at 713-365-5250 to arrange a Day and time. A vehicle approaching from either direction must STOP AND REMAIN STOPPED for school buses loading or unloading students when the alternating flashing red lights are activated. This applies in both city and rural areas. A vehicle on a highway divided into separate roadways is not required to stop upon meeting or passing a stopped school bus on a different roadway. Our SBISD students are required to stand in straight line while waiting for the bus to arrive. Students, according to State regulations for school bus operations in the state of Illinois, must stand at least five feet back from the edge of the road while waiting for their bus. SBISD could benefit from such a regulation. A school district may not require or allow a child to stand on a school bus that is in motion. STOP - LOOK - LISTEN   Every 90 minutes a vehicle and train collide somewhere in the United States. In 1996 there were 471 deaths and over 1500 injuries in highway - rail grade crossing collisions in the United States. Texas leads the Nation in the number of fatalities at grade crossings, 55 deaths and 229 injuries. Harris County has more collisions than any other county in the state. On an average, once every six days a vehicle and train collide in Harris County. Nationally 25% of all vehicles involved in grade crossing collisions strike the side of the train. Over 50% of all collisions occur at grade crossings where lights or gates are installed. Nationally 472 people lost their lives and 467 people were injured trespassing on railroad right-of-way. Try the following links to other organizations involved in pupil transportation: http://www.schoolbus.com http://www.stnonline.com/ http://www.tapt.com/ http://www.tea.state.tx.us/ http://www.napt.com Driver be aware, Always Expect a Train at Any Crossing, At Any Time!!! ANYTIME IS TRAIN TIME (All fatality and injury data is FRA preliminary data)