October - School Bus Safety

October, 2007

Safety Tips:  School Bus Safety

Each day 22 million kids begin their day and end it with a trip on a big “yellow hound.” Most of us started our school days in the same manner, waiting and then riding on the school bus.  Unfortunately, each year many children are injured and several are killed in school bus incidents.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) and General Estimates System (GES) in 1999 reported that 164 persons died and 18,000 more were injured in school bus related crashes.   In the past six years, approximately 70% of the deaths in fatal school bus related crashes were occupants of vehicles other than the school bus and 20% were pedestrians.

Approx. 4% of these were school bus passengers and 2% were school bus drivers.  During this period, the pedestrians killed in school bus related accidents, 77% were struck by the school bus.  From 1994 through 1999, the persons injured in school bus related accidents, 44% were bus passengers, 9% were bus drivers and 43% were occupants of other vehicles.

I hope that the following rules adopted by the National Safety Council (NSC) and hopefully passed on to schools and parents in your districts and counties will enable our folks to not become statistics like those discussed above.

GETTING ON THE SCHOOL BUS

• Try to arrive at the bus stop five minutes before the bus is die to be there.
• Always walk to the bus stop, never run.
• Walk on the sidewalk.  If there is no sidewalk, walk on the left side facing the traffic.
• Never speak to strangers at the bus stop or anywhere else and don’t get in the car with strangers.  If a stranger tries to talk to you or to pick you up, go straight home and tell your parents.
• While waiting for the bus, look for it’s flashing red lights and extended stop sign.  If you have to cross the street, look left and right and left and right again for traffic. before attempting to cross the street.
• While waiting on the bus to arrive, keep a good safe distance away from the traffic.  Avoid “horseplaying” or  prank games.
• Line up away from the street or road when the school bus is approaching your area.
• Wait until the bus has completely stopped and the door is opened before you step up on the bus.  The driver should actually give you a hand signal when it is clear for you to approach.
• Use the handrail to climb the steps into the bus.
• Take care in watching for the bus and don’t rely on the driver.

BEHAVIOR ON THE BUS

• As you get on the bus find a seat and sit down.  Loud talk and other noise can distract the driver and is not allowed.
• Don’t hang your head, arms or hands outside the bus window.
• Keep the aisles clear. Backpacks, book bags or gym bags lying in walkways become fall or trip hazards.
• Before the bus reaches its destination, the school or your home, assemble your belongings and be ready to exit the bus when it stops.
• As the bus stops, wait for it to come to a complete stop before you leave your seat.  Then walk to the front, don’t run, and descend the steps using the handrail.
• While on the bus, listen to the driver for special instructions.  In case of an emergency, assist by helping other kids to be quiet and listen for instructions.
• If you are talking to friends on the bus, do so quietly so that you don’t distract the driver.
• Don’t throw objects on the bus or out the bus windows.
• Don’t play with the emergency exits or help to keep your friends from playing with them as well.
• If you need to talk to the driver, wait until the bus stops, raise your hand and call the driver’s name.

GETTING OFF THE BUS

• When getting off the bus make sure that you walk three more steps away from the door and don’t run.  Stay away from the wheels and watch out for moving cars!
• If you have to cross the street in front of the bus, walk at least 10 feet ahead of the bus along the side of the road or street, until you can turn around and see the driver.
• Wait for the driver to give you a hand signal to cross in front of the bus and don’t cross the centerline until the driver has given you a signal.
• Once you are off the bus, go straight home and let a parent know that your safely home.
• If you leave something on the bus, don’t return to get it. The driver may start the bus moving and not see you. Also, if you should drop something near the bus, alert the driver first so that he will know that you are there.
• Stay away from the bus’ rear wheels at all times.

THE SAFE WAY IS THE ONLY WAY!!
WORK TOGETHER-WORK SAFELY !!

Excertpts:www.aboutschool.com / www.nsc.org/fact sheets