Back to School - School Bus Safety Tips

New York, NY
My school district begins classes on August 1, with other districts in the area beginning within the next few weeks.  That means that those big, yellow school buses will be back on the road.

There is an excellent article at the link above that offers safety tips for parents and school personnel to teach our children, after offering up some startling statistics.  "According to a Department of Transportation study revised in March of 2011 (DOT HS 396), about 19 children die each year in school bus accidents -- either as riders or nearby pedestrians."  School buses are among the sturdiest, safest vehicles on the road, yet 19 children die each year.  So what can be done?

The article goes on to list some important safety tips:

- Orderly, Polite Behavior Required at All Times. Children must be reminded to never push or shove others while boarding, riding or exiting a vehicle. They should always wait for the driver's permission to either enter or leave a bus. Bullying behavior, verbally or physically, is strictly forbidden on buses -- just as it is in school;

- Regular Use of Handrails. Holding on to these while getting on or off a bus can prevent many falls;

- Exercise Great Care When Moving About in School Bus Danger Zones. The areas right behind a bus and on both sides of it (near the front) are especially dangerous. Tell your children about these areas and remind them that drivers often fail to see kids moving around in these areas;

- Use Crosswalks and Never Jaywalk. Drivers often panic when they see a large number of kids. Be sure to remind your children that it can be very risky to try and cross any street outside of the crosswalk area or at an intersection;

- Kids Should Carry Safely Packed Backpacks. Make sure your kids pack their backpacks safely and leave everything inside while riding the bus. It's just too easy to drop things or injure others by handling backpack items while the bus is moving;

- Make Sure All Bus Stops are in Safe Locations. If you question the safety of the location of a particular bus stop, take your concerns immediately to the school district and try to get the stop moved to a safer area. School bus accidents often occur when kids jump out of the vehicles in poorly marked locations;

- Take Extra Care When Crossing in Front of a School Bus. Kids should always wait until a bus driver clearly indicates that it's safe for them to cross in front of the bus before they start to do so. Some buses have automatic placards that provide this signal;

- Never Disembark to Pick Up an Item Dropped Out a Window. Tell your children that if they accidentally drop something out a window, they should tell the bus driver so they might be given a safe opportunity to retrieve the item. No one should ever throw any object out a window while playing on a bus;

- Cell Phones Should Not Be Used While Riding Unless an Accident Occurs. While it's okay if your kids call you after an accident, tell them to try and wait for instructions from the driver (or any other adult on board) before calling or trying to exit the vehicle;

- Check on the Driver's Personal Safety Record and Experience. Ask your school district if it can provide you with a copy of the most recent background check done on your child's school bus driver. Such checks should be routinely made by the district at least once or twice a year.

I am the Director of Transportation for my district.  My drivers will be teaching these points, and others, to the children.  It would be a great idea for parents to teach this at home as well.  I've had to visit children in the hospital after a school bus accident.  Fortunately, their injuries were not severe.  Nonetheless, it was a horrible feeling to look at a child who was under your care lying there hurt, even if it wasn't your fault.  It would even be even worse if it were my child.

Be on the lookout for those big yellow buses, and the little ones they carry.

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