SACRAMENTO, Calif. — On Tuesday, the California Highway Patrol joined the Legislature and Gov. Jerry Brown in publicly expressing appreciation to the state’s school bus drivers for the job that they do as part of “School Bus Driver Day.”

“These are some of the most professional drivers in the state, and they’re passionate about what they do,” California Highway Patrol Commissioner Joe Farrow said. “I applaud them for their extraordinary safety record and the pride they take every day in the safe transportation of California’s children.”

The state’s school bus drivers are extensively trained and rigorously tested to ensure students’ safety when they are transported to and from school.

Despite the number of school buses being operated throughout the state, school buses remain one of the safest modes of school transportation. California has not experienced a pupil passenger fatality in 15 years, officials said.

They also noted that while school bus drivers do their part to safely transport schoolchildren to and from their destinations, the motoring public has an obligation to do their part as well. Most school bus-related injuries and fatalities occur around or near the school bus during the loading and unloading process.

Therefore, officials said, it is essential that the motoring public be reminded to exercise due caution when driving near schools and school buses. They recommended that motorists slow to 25 mph in school zones unless a lower speed is posted and stop behind a school bus when the flashing red lights and stop arm are activated.