DMV and GTSC give tips for the new school year – Troy Record

NEW YORK — As the new school year begins, the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) have many tips to help keep people safe.

“A new school year is a critical time to remind drivers and pedestrians alike to share the road responsibly,” DMV Commissioner and Chairman of the Governor’s Transportation Safety Committee Mark Schroeder said in a news release. “Drivers should be aware that more children will be walking or biking to and from school. They should also be prepared to stop for school buses, and parents should make sure their children know how to get on and off the bus safely. College-age students should make sure their driver’s license and registration are up to date.”

Tips for students:

-College students who may be away for several months are asked to ensure that their vehicle registration, safety inspection, auto insurance and driver’s license are current and will not expire before their next visit home.

– College students flying to campus should be aware that starting May 7, 2025, a regular driver’s license or ID card will no longer be accepted at the TSA security checkpoint. Travelers must present a REAL ID, Enhanced ID, or another form of government-approved identification to board a domestic flight. New Yorkers must apply for a REAL ID or Enhanced ID at a DMV location.

-Many DMV services are available online, such as applying for a REAL or Enhanced ID, renewing vehicle registration, finding an inspection location, and checking your insurance status. For more information, visit.

Tips for elementary school students:

– Whether you walk to and from school or take the bus, it is important to know the protection and safety measures.

– When crossing the street, look carefully left, right and left again.

– When waiting for the school bus, you should wait at the bus stop and keep a sufficient distance from the curb.

-When you get off the bus, look behind you first before stepping down the bottom step. The Pupil Transportation Safety Institute tells us that more and more drivers are passing stopped school buses on the right side – where the door is. Then take five giant steps straight out the bus door and out of the danger zone (areas around buses where the driver can’t see you). Make sure you make eye contact with the driver and wait for his signal before crossing the street in front of the bus.

– Never retrieve anything you left on the bus.

– Never bend down near or under the bus.

-Your school district probably has rules of conduct for school buses. Your bus driver’s primary concern is your safety, so it’s important that you listen to your bus driver if he or she has special instructions for your bus ride. Be sure to sit quietly in your seat and avoid distractions.

Tips for drivers:

– Never pass a school bus that stops when its red light is flashing – this means students are getting on or off. It is illegal to pass a school bus and all drivers are required to stop on public streets, multi-lane highways or private roads. Many school districts have implemented additional safety measures for their bus fleets that track drivers who illegally pass buses and send the vehicle information to police, who then issue them tickets in the mail.

-School buses stop frequently and usually travel slower. Be patient, slow down, and be prepared to stop for them.

-Yellow lights mean that the bus is about to stop – so slow down!

– Watch for children crossing the road in front of the bus when it stops.

– Be careful of children and people running to bus stops at bus stops.

-School buses are required by law to stop at railroad crossings, so be prepared to stop at railroad crossings when driving behind a school bus.

– Don’t let yourself be distracted. Never use electronic devices while driving and concentrate actively on the road and your surroundings.

Tips for aspiring bus drivers:

– Recognizing the need for additional school bus drivers, Governor Kathy Hochul announced a plan earlier this year to remove barriers to prospective school bus drivers applying for a commercial driver’s license. At the Governor’s direction, the DMV implemented a federal waiver that allows school bus driver applicants to skip the engine compartment portion, also known as “under the hood,” of the commercial driver’s license driving test. This makes it easier to obtain a commercial driver’s license at a time when school bus drivers are desperately needed.

– Make sure you have a New York State driver’s license (Class D, Class E, or non-CDL C).

– Study the New York State Commercial Driver’s Handbook.

– Apply for a commercial learner’s permit (CLP) at a DMV office. You must pass a written knowledge test to receive a CDL permit with school bus and passenger privileges.

– Plan an entry-level driver training course. For more information, see the Entry-level Driver Training (ELDT) FAQ.

– Prepare for your driving test and practice with a supervising driver.

-Plan and pass your Limited School Bus driving test.

– Go to a DMV location to change your driver’s license to reflect the “S1” (school buses only) and “K” (in-state only) restrictions.

For more information about the DMV and GTSC, visit both organizations’ social media pages: Facebook, Instagram, and X – formerly Twitter.