Buster’s main message is school bus safety

Author: Tammy Lane • First Posted: Tuesday, September 16, 2008

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Youngsters at Tates Creek Elementary were eager to see what Buster would do next.

Youngsters at Tates Creek Elementary were eager to see what Buster would do next.

Youngsters at Tates Creek Elementary were eager to see what Buster would do next.Wardy Mason, a school bus instructor, went over basic safety tips with the children at Tates Creek Elementary.Kindergarteners at Tates Creek were excited to start their day with a safety lesson from Buster.The kids crowded together to get a closer look at Buster's flashing lights and blinking eyes.Buster, the remote-controlled miniature school bus, features flashing lights and a "STOP" arm.

From the look of it, a kindergartener could almost fit inside Buster. But the remote-controlled school bus robot holds no passengers.

What the fully animated Buster does hold is the kids’ attention.  

“He has basically the same features that any bus would have,” said Wardy Mason, a district bus driver, driver trainer and safety instructor – noting the tiny "STOP" arm and flashing yellow lights.

Not one to be ignored, Buster also has eyes that blink, and he plays music, too.

Mason makes his way around to elementary schools with Buster in tow, both reaffirming the essentials of school bus safety.

Monday at Tates Creek Elementary, Mason repeated his “5, 5, 10” mantra as children wiggled their fingers in the air:

  • Get to the bus stop five minutes early;
  • Wait in a single-file line at least five big steps away from the curb;
  • Keep back at least 10 feet all around the bus, away from the danger zone.

“Hopefully it will plant a seed in those little minds that, ‘Hey, buses can be very dangerous. They can hurt you,’” Mason said.

He also emphasizes “eyeballing” the bus driver and never crossing behind a bus, and he encourages kids to tote a “clean” backpack, sans colorful toy accessories and flapping straps.

“We can talk to the fourth- and fifth-graders about more serious things, such as behavior on the school bus, and point out that cameras are on the bus,” he noted.

Mason’s program also covers fashion. Well, at least as far as safety goes. An untied shoestring, a drawstring hoodie or a dangling necklace can be hazardous.

“When you’ve got strings hanging all over your clothes, you’re asking for an accident to happen,” said Mason, who also bemoaned clogs and flip-flops. “If you lift your foot up and drop your sandal or shoe (on the bus step), you might fall.”

State law requires all students to get a school-bus safety program every year. The Fayette County Public Schools’ Transportation staff encourages schools to sign up for its program, though it is not mandatory. Mason said his goal is to reach 10,000 elementary students this school year.

So how do the kids respond to Buster?

“I think they do have a good time with him,” Mason said. “With the younger kids, we just try to get it in their minds: ‘Here’s a school bus, and you need to be careful.’”

He leaves behind year-round resources for teachers, including Buster coloring books, “Ride Safe, Be Safe” stickers and bookmarks, and a safety tips handout for parents.

“It’s been very rewarding for me,” said Mason, who’s been in charge of the Buster program for about seven years. “The kids might not remember a lot of things, but when I see them out in stores, they say, ‘Hey, you’re the Buster man.’”