08/17/2020- School will soon be back in session and that means buses will be back on the roads, prompting a reminder to motorists to slow down and use caution around them. Tom Westlund, President of Westlund Bus Lines in Marinette, says any time a bus has its flashing red lights on, vehicles traveling in both directions need to come to a complete stop. Drivers who fail to do so are not only risking an up-to $300 fine, but are also risking the safety of the children getting on or off that bus. Westlund says these types of incidents actually tend to become more common as the school year goes on.

This year, as important as safety getting on and off the bus is safety within the bus. COVID-19 has brought enhanced precautionary measures to student transportation and Westlund says this is critical for keeping not only the passengers, but the drivers healthy, as well.

Westlund says one of the main causes of vehicle versus school bus accidents is inattentive driving on the part of the passenger vehicle operator. Last year a pickup truck ran into the back of a stopped school bus on Highway 64 just outside of Marinette. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured in that incident.