Mom's School Bus Safety Guide

"The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round, round and round. The wheels on the bus go round and round all around the town". August is back-to-school season and back-to school season brings buses galore. Sharing the road with buses packed full of rowdy students requires patience, caution and respect on everyone's part. Rules and laws are in place to make the bus-riding experience safer and more pleasant for bus drivers, bus riders and everyday motorists. Obeying them ensures safety for all involved. Providing for the safety of our children is a community-wide responsibility.

Bus Stop Basics

Every year, approximately seven children are killed in bus-related crashes. However, annual fatalities are twice as high for children loading and unloading the bus. Most victims are five to seven years old and are in what is known as the danger zone when the deadly impact occurs. Students are hit by either passing motorists or dragged under the bus itself. Bus stop safety is crucial and must be observed by motorists, students, bus drivers and parents.

Parental guidance plays an important role in bus stop safety. Arrive at the bus stop at least five to ten minutes early. Arriving any earlier will increase the tendency for restlessness and arriving later creates an unnecessary rush to get there on time. Once you arrive at the stop, keep children out of the road until the bus arrives. Do not allow children to run or push and shove each other. Watch older children for bullying behavior as well. It is common for older kids to tease and pick on the smaller ones while they wait for the bus.

Young children should be accompanied to the bus stop by a responsible adult. They often have little experience with traffic and must be taught the importance of being aware of their surroundings. They must be reminded to pay attention to passing cars and look left, look right and look left again before continuing to cross. They should be alert and continue to look for vehicles while crossing the street to get on board.

Teach children to maintain a safe distance from the front of the bus. Making sure they can see the bus driver easily is a good rule of thumb. Cross the street with them for several days to demonstrate the process. Direct the child several feet out in front of the bus and have them indicate when they can see the driver. If the child can see the driver, the driver can see the child. Children should never go behind the bus for any reason. The Danger Zone is comprised of the entire ten foot area around the bus. This area is the most dangerous for students as the bus driver's visibility is severely limited. Clear this area as quickly as possible for your safety and the safety of the students.

Motorists have their own responsibilities in regard to bus stop safety. It is a law that no vehicle is allowed to pass a bus whose flashing red lights are on and stop sign is extended. Doing so can result in a citation and a hefty fine. In some states, bus drivers are encouraged to report motorists who disobey this law to local authorities.

Motorists are usually aware of bus stops on their daily routes. When approaching a known bus stop, adjust your speed accordingly. Be alert to crowds of children that can become unpredictable at a moment's notice. Prepare to stop on a dime if necessary. Students are pedestrians and pedestrians always have the right of way.

Many of the same safety rules apply when exiting the bus. In addition, children should be taught to check for cars passing on the shoulder before exiting the bus. Stress the importance of clearing the danger zone as quickly as possible when getting off the bus at the end of the day. Children should also pause at the edge of the front of the bus and check for oncoming traffic before proceeding to cross the far side of the street.

Last but not least, learn your child's bus number. You never know when you might need to know it. Bus mishaps tend to be common with younger children. Expect anything and prepare for the unexpected. I still remember the fear I experienced because I forgot my bus number when I was in elementary school. It is also wise to keep the phone number for the local bus barn handy, as well.

Bus Ride Guidelines

More rules apply once students board the bus. Most schools supply some kind of literature regarding rules and safety tips during the first week of school. The most important rule to remember and emphasize is for children to obey and always respect the bus driver. The driver must be able to concentrate on the mechanics of driving and the rules in place serve that purpose. Loud noises are distracting and a distracted bus driver puts the students in danger. Students should be advised to hold their voices down and speak quietly. Better yet, encourage children to bring a book on the bus and use the time to read or study further decreasing the noise level.

Kids should be told to keep their hands and feet out of the aisle and to themselves. Other students boarding and exiting the bus are in danger of tripping and falling when trying to step over a mass of legs, backpacks and feet. Once a student sits down in a given seat, he or she should remain seated for the entire ride. Throwing things and sticking hands and heads out the windows are absolute no-no's. Misbehavior on the bus threatens the safety of the students and anyone else who shares the road with the bus. Point out to bus riders the impact of good conduct and manners. Both will go a long way toward safety and comfort.

Remember that the bus driver has an extremely difficult job. Respect their need to perform that job and be as cooperative as possible. If you have a problem, address it with the bus driver in a tactful and communicative way. Going on the defensive and raising a ruckus is likely to upset the driver making a stressful job even more stressful than it has to be. If you truly believe there is a problem with the driver, contact the transportation department of your local school district. Express your concerns in a productive manner with the intent of solving the problem not just hanging the driver. Try to imagine driving with a bus full of approximately 40 to 80 wound up kids morning and evening everyday. Having to concentrate on the road and the behavior, of what amounts to two classrooms full of kids is monumental and takes both skill and determination. Bus drivers often don't get the respect they deserve.

Sharing the Road

The role of the everyday motorist is also essential to maintaining safety. Know the laws regarding school buses in your area and obey them accordingly. Yield right of way to school buses when possible. Navigating a vehicle that size through busy morning traffic and narrow neighborhood streets is no easy task. Keep your distance. Buses stop frequently and make many turns when following their routes. Give buses plenty of room to make those turns and expect the unexpected. A bus driver may find it necessary to stop suddenly and in most states, they are required to stop at all railroad tracks regardless of whether there is any indication of a pending train.

Be aware of bus stops along everyday routes and proceed through those areas with extreme caution. Know what time local schools dismiss their students and avoid those areas if you can. Keep your eyes on the road and slow down. A deadly accident in Memphis, TN took the lives of three middle school children about three years ago. Another accident, at a bus stop in Walls, MS claimed the life of a little girl. Both incidents brought much attention to negligent driving in places where children are present. Be the better driver and commit to driving even more responsibly in those areas.

If you witness a school bus being driven at an excessive speed or in an erratic and dangerous manner, do not hesitate to contact the transportation department in your school district.

Our children are a precious commodity. Their education is priceless and they deserve to feel safe on the bus ride to school in the morning and back home in the afternoon. Teachers, parents, students, motorists and drivers must work together to provide a safe and secure bus ride everyday.