CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) - A total of 26,000 school bus accidents happen in the US each year a troubling trend, according to officials. So this National School Bus Safety Week, you are being urged to keep our local children safe. New mural in Springfield highlights youth and community The biggest risk to a child's safety is when they are boarding or exiting a bus, and that's when patience should come into play. State officials say drivers should never try to drive around a bus when the stop arm is out and red lights are flashing because it's against the law. You are required to come to a complete stop or you could be fined up to $250. "People should pay attention and slow down around the school bus a little bit more and try not to go by them. I understand everybody's trying to get to work on time and all that, but we want to create a safe environment for our kids to be able to travel on their own school and back from school," said Lukasz Plewa of Chicopee. While drivers have the responsibility to prevent these kinds of accidents, so do pedestrians. That includes wearing bright-colored clothing, stopping and looking before crossing the street, and standing at least 10 feet away from the edge of the road at a bus stop. The Wilbraham Police Department is stepping up school bus safety enforcement, as they will have extra officers along bus routes, making sure everyone is following the law. Local News Headlines Body found near Whitney Field in Westfield Dryer causes fire on Easthampton Road in Holyoke Brush fire burns 25 to 40 acres of land in Connecticut What you need to know about Massachusetts ballot question 5 WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.