The wheels on the bus go round and round.. .but when they don't, you shouldn't either. Common sense, right? Then why have 1,093 tickets for passing a stopped school bus been issued this year and last in the state of Texas?

I did not know there was such a thing as National School Bus Safety Week, but it does exist. It's happening October 17th - 21st. I suppose the reason for this is the fact that there are jerks on the road who don't know how to stop for a school bus: it's illegal to zoom on by when a bus is stopped and the flashing red lights on a stop sign are lit up. Fittingly, troopers with The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) will be looking for drivers who are less than courteous towards the buses and the students.

“Any time a driver disregards a stopped school bus, they put children’s lives in danger, and DPS will not tolerate individuals who ignore the law, putting their own convenience before a child’s safety,” according to a statement from DPS Director Steven McCraw. “In order to help keep children safe, we urge drivers to always obey the law and remain alert when traveling near a school bus or bus stops where students gather.”

If you don't, you might lose $1,250 in fines.

The teachers are on board with this initiative, as you would expect.

“The safety of our schoolchildren is always a priority at the Texas Education Agency. We appreciate the dedication by Texas Highway Patrol Troopers during National School Bus Safety week – and throughout the entire year – to help ensure our students have a safe trip to and from school,” said Texas Commissioner of Education Mike Morath in a release.

Some tips:

• When driving in school zones, watch out for student pedestrians.
• Slow down and watch for children congregating near bus stops.
• Look for children who might dart into the street without looking for traffic.
• Know and obey the laws concerning traffic and school buses in Texas.

TxDOT also has info on their website about school bus traffic safety.

C'mon, give the kids a BRAKE. (Yes, I stole that from the highway sign. You so clever.)

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