School buses are becoming a familiar sight on Gwinnett County roads once again as GCPS students who selected in-person instruction transition to classroom learning in a phased-in approach through Sept. 9. Here are some things you need to know about the school district’s Transportation Services this fall:
Safety Training: During the summer, the GCPS Transportation Department serviced buses and conducted training for both new and experienced drivers.
Health and Safety on the Bus: Ensuring the health and safety of students, drivers, and monitors is a priority. Before leaving for the bus stop, families should screen their student for COVID-19 symptoms, including fever. Students should stay home if they have any symptoms or have been exposed to someone who has a confirmed, diagnosed, or suspected case. Students are required to wear a mask on the bus, and are strongly encouraged to wear one at the bus stop. All riders sit in assigned seats on the bus, and the windows are kept open for increased ventilation. The district has a multi-step process for cleaning and disinfecting buses, following best practices recommended by the CDC and county health department. Buses are cleaned/disinfected after morning and afternoon routes each day.
School Bus Passing Law: Everyone plays a role when it comes to keeping children safe as they are getting on and off the school bus. A 2019 state law governs how motorists should react when they encounter a stopped school bus on the roadway. In addition to raising awareness regarding bus safety and laws for drivers, GCPS has placed cameras on buses as a deterrent for drivers who illegally pass school buses. When the school bus amber or red lights are flashing, the system automatically detects vehicles passing the stopped school bus, and records the violation. The violator will receive a citation in the mail. The district has approximately 300 buses with cameras this school year. Learn more about the School Bus Camera Safety Program online.
School Bus Safety Tips for Students: Bus riders should know and follow important rules for keeping safe at the bus stop, during loading and unloading, and on the bus.
Numbers to Call: If, for some reason, a child does not get off his or her bus at the scheduled bus stop, parents or guardians should call their local school. If they can’t reach the school, they may call transportation at 770-513-6686. Families with questions about special education transportation services should call 770-513-6881. Note that families who need assistance in resolving pick up or delivery questions during the year should start with a call to the local school as school staff are best equipped to contact the appropriate transportation staff member for a quick response.
Did you know?
Gwinnett County Public Schools Transportation Department is the 3rd largest transporter of students in the country, and one of the top 5 transportation departments in the country, according to the Pupil Transportation Safety Institute. Here are some eye-opening GCPS transportation facts from the 2019-20 school year:
Transports more than 133,744 students twice a day
Operates 1,900 school buses
Drives 8,167 runs per day
Has 45,076 bus stops
Drives more than 131,000 miles per day (more than 30 round trips to Los Angeles per day)
Drives nearly 24 million miles per year
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), students are about 70 times more likely to get to school safely when taking a school bus instead of traveling by car.