CINCINNATI — First Student joins the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) in raising awareness for bus stop safety during National School Bus Safety Week, Oct. 20 to 24.

Statistics show the most likely time for students to be injured is when buses are loading or unloading students. Within all 50 states and across much of Canada, it is illegal to pass a stopped school bus that is using its warning signals to load and unload children.

“When motorists illegally pass a school bus, it puts children at risk and may cost lives,” said Gary Catapano, First Student senior vice president of safety. “Motorists need to educate themselves on stop arm laws because everyone in the community plays an important role in ensuring students get to and from school safely.”  

National School Bus Safety Week takes place every year during the third week of October. The theme for 2014 is "At My Stop, You Stop."