In light of the recent MVA involving a school bus from a local Mosad, as reported here on TLS, (VIDEO & PHOTOS), LPD Officer David Sussman (Pictured in shorts at scene) submitted the following to the Lakewood weekly magazine: I was in charge of a MVA scene recently that involved a school bus full of children ranging in age from 4-14 years old. Miraculously, there were no serious injuries, but it spotlighted a very serious issue that I feel compelled to address. Despite the fact that school buses are equipped with seat belts, few to no students use them. I urge parents to teach their sons and daughters that, just as in a car, seatbelts are required by law in a bus. Buses are prone to roll due to their high center of gravity and even if it just falls on its side, many unnecessary injuries will occur if the students dont have their seatbelts fastened. Even a non-rollover accident can cause, great harm to an unsecured child.
I also ask the school authorities to reinforce the need for seat belts with their students and to assist that the bus driver not move the bus until all of the children are properly seated and belted in. Let’s not wait for a tragedy to learn.
my son just started Cheder i buckled him up the first day he went on the bus but he never wore it again. the older kids dont and there is no authority aboard. i agree with the officer please pressure the schools to make our precious children were them.
If the BOE would allow Chaperons on the buses I believe the problem would be mostly fixed..
Pressure the parents. Schools have no authority once the bus rolls out. Parents need to take the initiative and then involve the schools.
I think that it is terrible that there are no bus monitors on the busses! we are sending our precious yiddish kinderlach to school with (some) goyish busdrivers….as nice or mentchlich as they may be there is absolutely no reason why bus monitors are not there to supervise….why is my 5 year old on a bus with noone she knows & no adult supervision except for the bus driver?? & in case of an accident/emeregency c”v the busdriver is busy with police (or what if something happens to the busdriver??!!)…etc. he/she is not the person to calm a 5 year old or even an older child! I think all parents from all the schools should demand bus monitors at least for the first couple of months until the kids are used to the busses/bus drivers/routes .
your comment was great up until you last line of ————–“all parents from all the schools should demand bus monitors at least for the first couple of months until the kids are used to the busses/bus drivers/routes”————- Exactly what diffrence does it make to an accident if it is the first week of school and the kids dont know the bus driver or if its the last week of school and by then the kids and driver are buddy buddy !?? if there is a accident and the driver gets hurt or even not the kids will still have noone there for them !
And while we’re at it ,How about we learn how to stop for the buses when they have the stop sign out so the kids can cross the street
especially on Martin Luther king Dr. the kids over there play chicken everyday getting on and off the bus.
The use of a seatbelt must begin at a childs young age, and reinforced over and over, day in and day out. The parents must also wear their seatbelts to show the child the importance of wearing them. Too Many parents are in a hurry to jump in the car and throw the kids in as WE are all in a rush all the time, so safety takes a back seat ( sorry for the pun ). But if WE do not slow down, properly educate out children, then when they get on a school bus they will certainly never buckle up. This hold true for cell phones, and other minor law infractions, but WE must start out young and EDUCATE our children. Bravo Officer Sussman for once again taking the bull by the horns and caring for the children of Lakewood.
Lt.
I would like to make a comment to people who drive past Sunset Drive. Yesterday, AND today a car rolled right past a school bus with the RED signal flashing! How could you do such a terrible thing? Do you not care about the lives of our children?
For all those who drive past that area, you should be aware that I posses videos, license plat numbers, car make, color, and a freeze frame of the driver. The next time you decide to break the law, or PASS a school bus with RED flashing lights, have it in mind, that you are being watched, and may get a knock on your door from a police officer.
P.S. If caught by a Police Officer while improperly passing a school bus, you will get a minimum of 5 POINTS on your license.
be careful bus drivers and cars there is a cop living in that area of sunset . a biger problem which needs to be addressed is bus drivers who speed up at yellows and speak on their cells with kids on board
Good Luck. I counted about 10 buses today traveling through Lakewood with kids bouncing all over the place and it wasn’t because of the horrible roads in Lakewood either. Kids are hanging out the windows throwing things, yelling, standing in the aisles.
I HAD TO GET ONMY KIDS BUS BECAUSE OTHER OTHER KIDS DECIDES WHO GETS A SEAT. MY KIDS ARE ON OF THE LAST STOPS. THERE IS ROOM BUT SOME KIDS RULE THE BUS AND DECIDE THEY WANT AN ENTIRE SEAT FOR THEMSELVES. THE YOUNGER KIDS END UP STANDING OR STIITNG IN PAIRS OF 3.
WE CALLED OUR SCHOOL PRINICPAL MORE THAN ONCE AND NOTHING CHANGES.
WHEN I WAS A KID THE BUS DRIVER RULED THE BUS AND HE WOULD NT MOVE IF ANYONE WOULD STAND UP – PERIOD.
WHAT HAPPENED.
All Bus drivers should make kids buckle. They have to buckle when in a car. Why is this allowed? If they don’t buckle who gets the ticket the bus driver? or the parent plus why do bus drivers allow kids to stand in the front area of the buses while driving. Small kids need to be in booster seat under 80 pounds in a car but again these kids don’t have to buckle on a school bus?
This is a problem in Lakewood.