Bus Safety Tips When Going Back To School

Starting in early August and all the way through much of September, welcoming students back from their summer hiatus is what schools all over the country will be doing. Whether you are a parent, child, school administrator, driver, or a concerned citizen, the following tips will help keep our nation’s students safe.

a) The Bus Stop. It’s important that your child’s bus stop should be in an area that is well lit and easily accessible as well as away from traffic. If it is not, then make sure that you contact the school administrators to have the stop moved. You may also need to contact the school board instead in some situations. If you live in an area where there is heavy snowfall, make sure that the stop is sufficiently free of snow, ice, and related debris.

Clothing. It’s essential that children are wearing bright colored clothing especially if waiting for the bus before sunrise or getting home after dark. Place removable reflective tape on their outer garments including on their hats and coats.

c) Boarding. Teach your children to only move forward to board the school bus when it has come to a complete stop and the driver opens the door. As they await entrance, then children should line up single file.

d) Seating. Virtually all school buses DO NOT come equipped with seatbelts, nor are seats strong enough to resist impact in the event of a crash. It is therefore critical to teach your children to be seated at all times and facing forward. Studying various brace positions is a must in order to prepare for the possibility of an accident. Learn optional exit strategies including using the emergency door or windows.

e) Exiting. Children must move far away from the vehicle to allow the driver to see that they have cleared the bus and are safely away from traffic when exiting the bus. Instruct your children to stay away from the bus’ rear wheels at all times.

Awareness. Another thing you should teach your kids is to be aware of other traffic in the area. Do not assume that drivers will stop for them or even see them. The only time that children are allowed to cross the street is only when the driver is directing them. They should be constantly looking both ways as they cross the street until they are safely on the other side.

Children die or are injured in school bus related accidents every year. The reason why most die is because of a collision involving their bus with another vehicle while others are killed or hurt as they fail to clear the area around the bus or are hit by oncoming traffic.

By raising their awareness of potential hazards while the rest of us can make school bus safety a priority by obeying the rules of the road, you can keep your child safe. It would be great if you could make this school year a safe one.

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