A New School Year: Bus Safety 101

While the school bus is the safest way to travel to and from school, according to the National Association of Pupil Transportation (NAPT), it’s important for parents to teach their children how to stay safe in and around the school bus.

Before The Bus Arrives

Ensure backpacks are packed securely so papers and other items don’t scatter as the bus approaches.

Create a morning routine that puts kids at the bus stop five minutes before the scheduled pickup time. This helps avoid a last-minute rush, when safety lessons are easily forgotten, and ensures kids are safely in place for boarding.

Encourage children to wear bright, contrasting colors so they can be seen easier by drivers.

Walk young children to the bus stop or encourage kids to walk in groups. Groups are easier to see.

If kids must cross a street, remind them look both ways before crossing.

Verify the bus stop location offers good visibility for the bus driver; if changes are needed, talk with nearby homeowners or school district officials Never let kids wait in a house or car, where the driver may not see them approach the bus.

Remind children that the bus stop is not a playground. Balls or other toys could roll into the street and horseplay can result in someone falling into the path of traffic.

Instruct children to stay at least three steps away from the road and allow the bus to come to a complete stop before approaching it.

On The Bus Ride

When boarding the bus, items can get bumped and dropped. Caution children that before picking anything up, they should talk to the driver and follow instructions.

Teach safe riding habits: stay seated with head, hands and feet inside at all times; keep bags and books out of the aisle and remain seated until the bus stops moving.

Instruct children to never throw things on the bus or out the windows and to never play with or block emergency exits.

Remind kids that just like when riding in a car, loud noises are off limits so they don’t distract the driver. That includes cellphones and other electronic devices; instruct children to put them on mute or use headphones.

Leaving The Bus

Remind children to look before stepping off the bus. If they must cross the street, teach them to do so in front of the bus by taking five big steps (approximately 10 feet) away from the front of the bus, looking up and waiting for the driver to signal that it is safe.

For parents who meet their kids at the bus, remember that in their excitement kids may dart across the street. Eliminate the risk by waiting on the side of the street where kids exit the bus.