School Bus Safety Rules
In May 2003, a school bus carrying 48 students rolled onto its side and went down an embankment near Siloam Springs, Arkansas. A 14-year old girl was killed and at least 21 other students were injured. The driver of the bus explained to police that a disturbance caused him to momentarily take his eyes off the road, thus causing him to drive off the pavement. Of course, creating a disturbance is a violation of school-bus safety rules. Unfortunately, such student behavior is very common. Thus it iis vital for students to know the bus rules and to be on their best behavior.
Other People Are Reading
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Misconceptions
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Due to parental and community concern regarding the well being of children, there is intense public reaction after a major accident involving a school bus occurs. Vivid images and news stories of such tragedies fuel community apprehension that school buses are not safe. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) however, buses are eight times safer than ordinary passenger vehicles, with an average of seven students dying in bus crashes per year while an 19 lose their lives while entering or exiting the bus.
Features
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Although school buses have proven themselves to be the safest means of transporting students, efforts are constantly underway to increase bus security even further. Federal and state law mandate stricter qualifications for drivers as well as more stringent mechanical guidelines. Designers have added new safety features, such as crossing arms, which keep students from wandering too closely to the front of the vehicle where drivers cannot see them. Many school districts conduct bus evacuation drills during which students are reminded of all bus safety rules.
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Student Rules
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Safety rules for students involve those that address behavior both on and off the bus. Students are strongly encouraged to stand several steps back from the road at their bus stops. As the bus draws near, they must wait until the red flashers are activated before attempting to cross the street or otherwise, approach the vehicle. When exiting, students must either cross immediately while the red lights are on, or else stay clear until the bus leaves. Inside, passengers are to remain seated, must keep their hands to themselves, and should avoid placing their hands or heads near the windows. Screaming and fighting is a serious distraction to bus drivers and should be avoided.
For Motorists
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Vehicles following or approaching a school bus should prepare to stop as soon as the bus's yellow flashers are activated. When the flashing lights turn to red all other vehicles are required by law to come to a complete halt unless on a four-lane boulevard or highway divided by a wide median. The vehicle is then to remain in place until the red flashing lights are turned off and the coast is clear of students.
Considerations
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Misbehavior and student disregard for bus safety rules serves as a major distraction for the bus driver, and is a constant threat to the well being of all bus passengers. Commonly, other motorists do not stop when school vehicles are loading and unloading, thus creating potentially dangerous situations unnecessarily. Therefore, it is incumbent upon parents and community leaders to continue working with the student population as well as motorists in order to further improve child safety in and around the school bus.
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