Back to School: Officials Urge Caution as Central Oregon School Buses Head Back on the Road

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- As students return to school, school buses are heading back onto the roads in Bend-La Pine Transportation officials are warning motorists to obey traffic laws surrounding school buses, where illegal passes carry potential fines of up to $2,000.

Student safety remains a major concern for local school districts as school bus routes resume alongside daily commuter traffic. District officials report that drivers frequently violate traffic laws by passing buses illegally, placing children at risk during pick-up and drop-off times.

Kim Crabtree, the executive director of transportation for Bend-La Pine Schools, highlighted the timing of bus routes as a key factor in traffic conflicts. “People are in a hurry, you know, we're out there kind of when people are going to work and coming home from work,” Crabtree said. She noted that motorists frequently commit illegal passes around stopping buses. “We have them coming, passing us, oncoming, coming from the back. We've even had them pass on the right-hand side,” Crabtree said.

To combat these hazards, Bend-La Pine Schools conducts training for its bus drivers on safety techniques to avoid dangerous situations on the road. Crabtree emphasized that adult drivers bear the main responsibility for safety because young students are still learning. “We do a ton of training with our drivers, so it's super dangerous,” Crabtree said. “Kids are impulsive and while we train kids, wait until our driver signals you to walk across the road or come to the bus. They're little, they're kids, you know, I mean they're going to make mistakes and so we have to rely on drivers that are trained to drive to follow the law.”

Transportation officials also offered safety guidance for parents to share with their children during the school year. Crabtree advised students to remain patient and stay clear of traffic while waiting for their ride. “The best advice is the simplest be careful out there,” Crabtree said. “I mean. Yeah, stay on the sidewalk, wait for your bus driver to come. Don't play in the road, uh, wait for us and we'll get there to pick you up.”