GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. - As Gwinnett communities get ready for another school year to begin on Monday, August 5, the Gwinnett County Police Department and Gwinnett County Public Schools are offering tips to help students and their parents brush up on bus safety.
Sending a child onto the school bus for the first time can be intimidating for parents. Gwinnett County Public Schools' Director of Community Relations, Bernard Watson, says that parents should have full confidence in county school bus safety measures, "all bus drop-offs and pickups are carefully selected based off of safeness and efficiency." Bernard also encourages parents with any concerns about using the bus system to contact the school transportation system at (770) 338-4800.
The Gwinnett county school bus transportation system services about 130,000 students. Drivers take more than 120 hours of training before they are able to transport a student. The school also takes additional safety precautions including physical fitness tests and annual driving exams for all drivers.
Gwinnett Police have additional safety tips for parents as they send their students onto the school bus:
- Practice walking the bus route ahead of time with your child.
- Look for your designated school’s name on the card displayed in the bus window to verify that it is the correct bus.
- Make sure your child always walks in a group.
- Remind your child that if they see something, to say something.
- Report anything suspicious to the Gwinnett PD: (770) 513-5700
County residents will begin seeing school buses in their neighborhoods starting Tuesday, July 30, as they practice their routes. All drivers will run their assigned routes during drive times in the mornings and afternoons, from July 30 through August 2.
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