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Safety tips for riding the school bus

School buses are a safe way to get to school

For approximately 24 million children across the country, the school day begins and ends with a ride on the bus. Statistics show that traveling to school by bus is one of the safest modes of transportation. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, school buses have a rate of 0.2 deaths per 100 million miles traveled; the rate of deaths in automobiles is eight times higher.

Passing motorists can endanger children getting on and off buses

Still, accidents do happen. The NHTSA reports that each year, an average of 11 passengers under the age of 19 die in school bus accidents. Most of the most serious injuries and deaths occur when children are hit by a school bus or by passing motorists while getting on or off the bus. Studies have shown that in a single day, hundreds of thousands of cars pass stopped school buses illegally.

School bus safety rules

To keep your children safe, the NHTSA and American Academy of Pediatrics suggests discussing rules for riding the bus with them.

Avoid the Danger Zones at all times:

• Front danger zone. It's never safe to walk close to the front of the bus, as the driver may be sitting up too high to see a child crossing in front of it. Instruct your child to walk five giant steps ahead of the bus before crossing in front of it. Make sure he can see the driver, and the driver can see him.
• Side danger zone. Tell your child to take at least three giant steps away from the side to avoid being in the driver's blind spot.
• Rear danger zone. Caution your child to never walk behind a school bus, as the driver will not be able to see her.

• When waiting for the bus, stay away from traffic and avoid roughhousing or other behavior that can lead to carelessness. Do not stray onto streets, alleys or private property.
• Line up away from the street or road as the school bus approaches.
• Wait until the bus has stopped and the door opens before stepping onto the roadway.
• Use the hand rail when stepping onto the bus.

• Find a seat and sit down. If you bus has a seatbelt, make sure to belt in immediately.
• Keep the noise level down. Loud talking or other noise can distract the bus driver.
• Never put head, arms or hands out of the window and never throw anything out of the window.
• Keep aisles clear, as books or bags are tripping hazards and can block the way in an emergency.
• At your stop, wait for the bus to stop completely before getting up from your seat. Then, walk to the front door and exit, using the hand rail.

• Make sure that the driver can see you once you are off the bus.
• Wait for a signal from the driver before beginning to cross.
• When the driver signals, walk across the road, keeping an eye out for sudden traffic changes.
• Do not cross the center line of the road until the driver has signaled that it is safe for you to begin walking.
• Be aware of the street traffic around you. Not all drivers follow the rules of the road, so before stepping into the street, look to be sure a car isn't coming.
• Don't linger or play near the bus after you leave it.