WESTOVER — The week of October 20-24 is National School Bus Safety Week and Somerset County Public Schools Supervisor of Transportation and Operations Gregg Sutton asks everyone to pause and recognize school bus drivers and aides “for their steadfast commitment to safely transporting our precious cargo to and from school daily.” “They are literally our students' trip to success!"

In an October message to contractors, Mr. Sutton wrote that “this occasion is an evolving public education initiative that is an excellent way for everyone: parents, students, teachers, school administrators, transportation staff, and the general public to join forces and address the importance of school bus safety. Designed primarily to promote school bus safety, school districts across the country observe School Bus Safety Week each year during the third week in October.

“It is also noteworthy to mention that Somerset County Public Schools bus drivers are known for their outstanding safety record in safely transporting nearly 3,000 students to and from school each day, traveling over 750,000 miles annually and only having two school bus-related accidents during the 2013-2014 school year. During National School Bus Safety Week, as every week, the highest standards of safety are observed to prevent crashes and injuries.

“Although we observe the third week in October as National School Bus Safety Week each year, we must also recognize the school bus drivers and bus aides for their steadfast commitment to safely transporting our precious cargo each day. You are literally their TRIP TO SUCCESS."