CHARLESTON, W.Va. - School bus drivers across the state will no longer be able to use cell phones while driving kids.

The ban was included in a revised state transportation policy approved Thursday by state Board of Education members.

Many counties had already implemented no-cell phone policies for bus drivers about a year ago on recommendation of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, said Ben Shew, director of school transportation for the state Department of Education. 

Among other changes, new bus drivers will face stricter training requirements. Classroom training will increase from 30 to 40 hours, and hands-on training will increase from six to 12 hours. The policy also clarifies procedures for loading and unloading students onto buses.

Shew said many of the safety upgrades are needed because of the spread of pre-kindergarten programs. Children as young as three now ride school buses.

"They have to be handled differently than regular middle school, high school and elementary school students," he said.

About 230,000 West Virginian students ride a school bus each day, Shew said.

The ban was included in a revised state transportation policy approved Thursday by state Board of Education members.

Many counties had already implemented no-cell phone policies for bus drivers about a year ago on recommendation of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, said Ben Shew, director of school transportation for the state Department of Education. 

Among other changes, new bus drivers will face stricter training requirements. Classroom training will increase from 30 to 40 hours, and hands-on training will increase from six to 12 hours. The policy also clarifies procedures for loading and unloading students onto buses.

Shew said many of the safety upgrades are needed because of the spread of pre-kindergarten programs. Children as young as three now ride school buses.

"They have to be handled differently than regular middle school, high school and elementary school students," he said.

About 230,000 West Virginian students ride a school bus each day, Shew said.