When Did School Buses Get Arms?

The crossing arm can be seen in use. Note the ...

School Bus with School Bus Crossing Arm

School Bus. Arms. When Did School Buses Get Arms?

For that matter, when did they get white roofs? And, why?

The arms are for safety. The roofs are for heat.

All states require that motorists stop if a school bus is stopped with flashing red lights. The lights flash while the bus is stopped and children are getting on or off.

A STOP sign swings out from the left side of the bus to warn drivers coming from behind that they must stop. This practice started in the 1950s.

Buses have a rear-entry and exit door because when the first, horse-drawn school buses were built, a rear door was considered necessary to keep from scaring the horses.

School Bus Crossing Arms

School bus crossing arms are a local option at the state, local or school bus contractor level.

They were introduced to prevent children from being run over by bus drivers who cannot see children walking across the street in front of the bus. Two-thirds of students killed are hit by the school bus, not passing cars.

Delaware, Minnesota and North Carolina require school bus crossing arms. California requires that bus drivers escort children across the street.

Why Don’t School Buses Have Seat Belts?

While seat belts are periodically reviewed, the high, cushioned backs of seats mounted close together are generally considered a safe way to protect children in the event of a crash.

The 71 deaths in school bus crashes between 1994 and 2004, compared to 31,693 deaths in cars and light trucks in 2004 alone, suggests it is largely working.

However, five states do require seat belts on school buses:

Florida
Louisiana
New Jersey
California
Texas

School Buses Used to Be All Yellow

School buses are required, by federal safety standards, to be yellow.

When did they start painting the roofs white, and why?

The trend started in California in the 1970s.

By the 1990s, Georgia, North Carolina and Florida had adopted the practice or were exploring it. Studies showed it dropped the temperature inside the bus by 10 degrees in the summer months and made it easier for other drivers to see the buses.

With the recent start of school, and the familiar sight of school buses on the road, our children’s and grandchildren’s safety is top of mind.

What else have you noticed about how things have changed in getting to school?

Did you walk six miles, through the snow, uphill, both directions, to get to school?

Did your grandparents?

Did you ride a bus?

Did your bus driver lead singing on the bus?

Did you get to sit next to your best friend?

What else do you remember about riding on the school bus?

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Carol Covin, “Granny-Guru”

Author, “Who Gets to Name Grandma? The Wisdom of Mothers and Grandmothers”

http://newgrandmas.com