School Bus Safety Information
Proper school bus safety practices help assure your child is safe while transported to and from school. Younger children need more supervision than older children. Using an adult bus stop monitor, practicing at home and reviewing rules will help children learn about school bus safety.
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Significance
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According to NHTSA, around 19 children are killed annually boarding and getting off of school buses. An additional seven are killed annually in school-bus-related auto accidents. School bus safety is imperative in saving lives and preventing injuries.
Practice School Bus Safety at Home
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Line up chairs in your living room or den. Play a game with elementary children to practice school bus safety. Have the child practice walking down the aisle between the chairs. Remind the child to talk quietly to his friends. Have the child raise his hand to ask the bus driver a question.
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Supervision at the Bus Stop
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Have children wait for the bus away from the road. Coordinate a schedule with the other parents to assure that at least one adult is available daily to supervise children at the bus stop. Teach the children that they are to listen to the bus stop monitor. Remind children of the importance of safety at the bus stop.
Clothing and Book Bags
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Check everyone's clothing to assure that shoes are tied. There should be no loose strings or cloth hanging from book bags, jackets or other clothing. These can get caught in the school bus door or pose a tripping hazard on the school bus steps. The bus stop monitor can check younger children.
Boarding the School Bus
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It's imperative to never rush toward a school bus. Wait until the flashing lights and school bus stop sign are all displayed. Wait until the school bus driver completely opens the door before leaving the designated school bus stop area. Look both ways before crossing the street. An adult should escort younger children to the actual school bus door.
Teach children to go directly to their seats. Remind children to never play around on the bus. They should sit facing forward and remain quiet to allow the school bus driver to concentrate.
Leaving the School Bus
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Children should be taught to wait until the bus driver tells them they can get up from their seats, gather their items and walk to the school bus door. An adult should be available to help younger children down the school bus steps and crossing streets.
Miscellaneous Items
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At times, your child might forget an item on the school bus or drop something. Remind your child to never run back to the bus to retrieve an item. The school bus stop monitor should motion the bus driver to stop. The adult can then get whatever was dropped or left on the bus.
If the school bus driver doesn't see the adult, wait until all traffic has cleared from the road to get a dropped item. Contact the school about anything left on the bus to make arrangements to go and get it.
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