School bus safety is no accident. Parents have a responsibility to teach their children how to stay safe in getting to and from school. It’s a dangerous world out there, and statistics prove it. Since the 1998-99 school year, 13 students have been killed in accidents in North Carolina. In the last two school years alone, five have been killed. In our state on March 26, 2014, 3,153 vehicles passed stopped school buses illegally.
Image / Egerton Law
The school bus “danger zone” encompasses at least 10 feet on the sides of the bus,
10 feet in front of the bus and all areas behind the bus.
This post, part of a series on bus safety, comprises tips for parents to pass along to their kids.
GETTING OFF THE BUS:
- Stay seated until the bus is completely stopped.
- Never stop to pick something up that you have dropped when a bus is stopped. Wait until the bus has driven off to avoid not being seen by the driver.
- When getting off the bus make sure you walk (not run) three more steps away from the door. This is the best place to be around a bus. Stay away from the bus wheels and watch out for moving cars.
- Once you get off the bus, go straight home so an adult will know where you are.
- Only get on and off the bus at your designated stop. If you need to get off the bus somewhere else, you will need to have a note from your parents.
- If you leave something on the bus, don’t go back to the bus to get it. The driver may not see you come back and they may begin moving the bus.
- Move away from the side of the bus immediately. Go directly home.
- When getting off of the school bus, make sure that all drawstrings and other loose objects are secure so that they don’t get caught on the handrail or the door.
IN GENERAL
- Do not push or shove anyone while waiting for the bus or getting off.
- Cross the street in a designated crosswalk. Be extra careful in rainy, foggy, or snowy weather.
- Use the handrail and take one step at a time when getting on or getting off the bus.
- If a dropped article rolls near or under the bus do not crawl or reach under the bus. Go to the door of the bus and tell the driver. She/he will help you retrieve the article.
- Backpacks/bags need to be fully closed and sized appropriately for you to prevent safety hazards such as dragging straps.
- One of the most important concepts parents can teach their children is the school bus “danger zone. ” It’s the area the driver can’t see the kids, due to the size of the bus. The danger zone encompasses at least 10 feet on the sides of the bus, 10 feet in front of the bus and all areas behind the bus.
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