How to Keep Kids Safe on a School Bus

When the kids go to school there are school bus safety tips everyone must remember. These tips involve the parents, kids, the bus driver, and all motorists. Here are the important ‘back to school’ school bus safety tips that will keep students safe.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. School Bus Safety - Bus Stop
   
   Every bus stop should be safe for kids going back to school.
   • The area should be well lit, especially during the winter months when the mornings remain dark longer.
   • The bus stop needs to be easy to get to and be a safe distance away from traffic.
   • When it snows the bus stop needs to be cleared so the kids do not have to climb over a snow pile to access the school bus.

2. School Bus Safety – Be Seen
   
   When a child is waiting at the school bus stop they need to be seen. To accomplish this have the kids wear colorful clothing. When the school bus schedule has the kids waiting in the dark put a piece of reflective tape on their outer layer of clothing.

3. Boarding the School Bus Safely
   
   As the school bus arrives at the bus stop kids should wait until the bus comes to a complete stop before approaching it. When the bus drives opens the door it is safe to move towards it to get on. There is no need to race to be the first one on.

4. School Bus Safety – Seating
   
   School buses do not have seat belts. Kids need to remain seated at all times until the bus arrives at its destination. The bus driver should conduct a bus safety training so kids know how to brace themselves in the case of an school bus accident and where the exit door and exit windows are.

5. School Bus Safety – Exiting the School Bus
   
   • When exiting the bus kids need to walk slowly down the stairs and ensure that clothing and straps do not get hooked on anything.
   • Move away from the bus so the school bus driver can see kids are safely out of the way before they resume.
   • Do not get off the bus and walk along side of it. This is a blind spot for bus drivers and a very dangerous place to be when the bus moves.

6. School Bus Safety – Driver Awareness
   
   When the school bus lights are flashing and the ‘stop sign’ is extended drivers must stop. That is the law! The safety of kids going back to school depends on all drivers, sharing the road with the school bus, to be aware that ‘where the bus goes there will be kids’. Every year there are injuries and deaths associated with a driver passing the school bus when the ‘stop’ arm is extended and the kids assuming they can cross the road safely. Yes, it is frustrating being stuck behind a school bus yet the last thing you want is to hit a child as you were trying to get passed the bus.

Tips & Warnings

• Keeping the kids safe, while riding the school bus, is a priority. When they ride the school bus as transportation to school remind them of these bus safety tips. Drivers should obey the rules of the road when they are behind a school bus, also.

Resources

• How to Create a Family Schedule for a School Morning

[kateco]

on 7/31/2009 Excellent information for parents!

[kaseysviewblog]

on 7/14/2009 This is very important information, thanks for writing it.