School bus safety tips

Getting ready for school

• Have your children put everything they carry in a backpack or school bag so that they won't drop things along the way.

• Have them wear bright, contrasting colors so drivers will more easily see them.

• Make sure they leave home on time so they can walk to the bus stop and arrive before the bus is due. Running can be dangerous.

Walking to the bus stop

• Walk your young child to the bus stop and have older children walk in groups. There is safety in numbers; groups are easier for drivers to see.

• Practice good pedestrian behavior. Your children should walk on the sidewalk; if there is no sidewalk, they should stay out of the street.

• If they must walk in the street, they should walk single file, face traffic and stay as close to the edge of the road as they can.

• Tell your child to stop and look left, right and then left again if they must cross the street. They should do the same thing at driveways and alleys.

Waiting on the bus

• Don't let your child play running games or push and shove at the bus stop. It is dangerous near traffic.

• Make sure your child stands at least 12 feet (6-8 giant steps) from the road while waiting for the bus. The child will then be out of the way of traffic. Have younger children practice taking 6-8 giant steps to become familiar with 12 feet.

• Parents may not board buses or discuss issues with the drivers during the route. Contact our area transportation office.

Getting on and off the bus

• Warn children that if they drop something, they should never pick it up. Instead, they should tell the driver and follow the driver's instructions. If they bend over to pick up a dropped object, they might not be seen by the driver and could be hurt if the driver pulls away from the stop.

• Remind children to look to the right before they step off the bus. Drivers in a hurry sometimes try to sneak by buses on the right.

• Teach your children to secure loose drawstrings and other objects that may get caught in the handrail or door of the bus as they are exiting.

• If you meet your child at the bus stop after school, wait on the side where the child will be dropped off, not across the street.

• If you need to make any changes in your child's bus pick-up or drop-off, you must submit a new Bus Passenger Registration Form prior to such change to your area Transportation Office.

Riding the bus

• Children should talk quietly, be courteous to the driver and follow the driver's instructions.

• Children should stay seated during the entire bus ride and keep the aisles clear.