For immediate release
August 22, 2001

School bus safety at the mall

        You're not seeing things - that really is a school bus parked inside the Quinte Mall. The Joint Transportation Authourity of the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board and the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board is holding a school bus safety exhibit at the Quinte Mall in Belleville from August 27 through September 1- just in time for back to school.
        Approximately 20,000 students travel by bus in Hastings and Prince Edward counties, travelling more than 6.4 million kilometres annually. "For these students, taking the bus is as much a part of school as desks and chalkboards," says Gail McCullough, Manager of Transportation. "This program at the Quinte Mall aims to give students and parents tips on school bus safety and give first time riders a chance to get comfortable with the bus."
        One of the things that students and parents can pick up at the exhibit is the school bus safety rules cards. The "Be Cool. Follow the Rules" campaign, lists these ten tips for safety around the school bus:
            1. Be on time.
            2. Never run to or from the bus.
            3. Stand back from the curb.
            4. Don't push or shove.
            5. Stay in your seat.
            6. Don't yell or shout.
            7. Always obey the driver.
            8. Wait for the driver's signal before crossing.
            9. Always cross at least 10 feet in front of the bus.
            10.Never crawl under a school bus.
        The school bus safety exhibit is at the Quinte Mall during regular hours from Monday, August 27 to Saturday, September 1.
 

For information contact:
Gail McCullough, Manager of Transportation, 966-1170, ext. 2225