What Are The Stripes On New Jersey School Buses Used For?

Back-to-school will be here soon!

Are you starting to get emails about class schedules, school supplies, and the bus number your kids will be on this school year?

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I would love for summer to go on and on forever, but sadly it's slowly coming to an end.

It won't be long until we're spending mornings and afternoons at the bus stop waiting for our kids to get on and off the bus.

Have you ever noticed the 3 black lines on the side of a school bus? I have, but to be honest, I've never really thought about it. Have you?

There have been social media posts, and some have gone viral over the years, claiming the 3 black lines are for emergency personnel to know where to cut if the bus was ever in an accident.

But, is that true? What is the real reason?

What Are The 3 Black Stripes On New Jersey School Buses Used For?

Those lines are not just part of the color design, there's a real reason every school bus in New Jersey has them.

The lines match the seat level, floor line, and bottom of the outer skirt of the bus.

Here's how you can save on your back-to-shopping. Read More: Save Big! The Cheapest Store In New Jersey For Back-To-School Shopping

A spokesperson for Student Transportation of America says, "While the lines generally line up with specific areas on the school bus, their main purpose is protection in the event of side impact or rollover."

They're called rub rails and add structure and support to the bus. They're designed to add a layer of protection helping to absorb the force of a crash and are required on all school buses.  

Although the lines could help emergency personnel, that's not their main function.

When you see a school bus this year, now you know what those three black lines are for.

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