Bus Rules for Your Child’s Safety

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Ready for Back to School?

School is starting soon! For many families, this means the return of a busy schedule. Kids will be looking forward to seeing their friends and getting back into their routine. But for parents, it also means increased safety concerns for children. Parents need to know bus rules for child’s safety so that they can help keep them safe on the way to school and home again every day.

First Time Bus Riders

Talk with your child about what a bus driver is/does. It’s important for kids to know that drivers need their help in order to keep everyone safe, so it’s not appropriate for them to yell at the driver or be rude while they are driving.

Parents may want to read a bus safety book with their child, such as “The Berenstain Bears Go To School.” (if you purchase from this link I will make a few cents.)

Talk about what behaviors are okay on the bus and which ones aren’t. For example, it’s not a good idea to yell to other kids while the driver is driving because this can distract him/her from being able to concentrate on the road.

Praise your child for doing well in these conversations – they are getting an important life lesson!

Back to School Bus Safety for Kids

Introduce them to school bus safety for a great new school year. If there are new rules you should let them be aware of them. Currently, we are going through Covid-19 and Delta with that buses are making it mandatory that all people boarding MUST wear a mask. If you do NOT have a mask you can’t get on. (Some drivers are bringing extra masks but not all. Be prepared.)

1. Get Your Kids Registered for the Bus. Call up the school or go online and make sure your children are registered to ride the school bus. If your child is not chances are the bus driver may not be aware of them and they could get on the wrong bus or be dropped off at the wrong stop. No one wants that.

Find out the time for pick up/drop off, the bus driver’s name, bus number, and of course their address. This will help in case your child does NOT remember the right bus. If they know their address and get on the wrong bus they can let the driver know and they can help them out.

2. Bus Stop. Your child’s bus stop should be in an area that is well lit, easily accessible, and away from traffic. If it is not, contact school administrators to have the stop moved. You should always have their number on your phone. In some situations, you may need to contact the school board instead. If you live in an area where there is heavy snowfall, make sure that the stop is sufficiently free of snow, ice, and related debris.

3. Clothing. If your children are waiting for the bus in the dark, here’s a few clothing examples or gear your child should be wearing at the bus stop. Children should be wearing bright-colored clothing, especially if waiting for the bus before sunrise or getting home after dark. This is both good for the bus driver to see them but also helps oncoming cars notice them too. Place removable reflective tape on their outer garments including on their hats and coats.

• If you are wearing your coat or jacket with reflective tape, it makes it easier for drivers to see you in the dark.

4. Boarding. Teach your children to only move forward to board the school bus when it has come to a complete stop and the driver opens the door. In other words, teach them not to run to the door before it opens and not to push other kids while boarding the bus. Children should line up single file as they await entrance.

• No swinging backpacks or lunchboxes. Ever!

5. Seating. Virtually all school buses DO NOT come equipped with seat belts, nor are seats strong enough to resist impact in the event of a crash. Teach your children to be seated at all times and facing forward. Study various brace positions to prepare for the possibility of an accident. Learn optional exit strategies including using the emergency door or windows.

Seat belts: More and more school buses are becoming equipped with seat belts so make sure you teach your child how to use the one on the bus properly. If they haven’t been on a bus before you may want to call the transportation department to see if you can come by and show them so they know-how in the mornings. These are a bit different from your everyday seat belts in a car.

6. Exiting. When exiting the bus, children must move far away from the vehicle to allow the driver to see that they have cleared the bus and are safely away from traffic. Instruct your children to stay away from the bus’ rear wheels at all times. Explain they should get across the road quickly once they’ve looked both ways and the bus driver has instructed them, no slow walking/chatting.

• Be cautious of the bus’ rear wheels when exiting and staying away from them at all times.

7. Awareness. Teach your children to be aware of other traffic in the area. Do not assume that drivers will stop for them or even see them. If children must cross the street, they are to do so only with the driver directing them. Have them constantly looking both ways as they cross the street until they are safely on the other side.

• Be aware of other traffic in the area when crossing a street.
• Know that you must get across the road quickly once you’ve looked both ways and your driver has instructed you, no slow walking or chatting with friends!
• Keep an eye out for drivers who may not see you.
• Be aware of any unfamiliar vehicles in the area, which includes cars and people, and look around to make sure there is not a car or person that looks suspicious.

8. Stranger Danger. This is still a topic that should be brought up. Just because your child is NOT walking home from school does NOT mean they shouldn’t be aware of cars/people in the area. Have them look around to see if there is a car they are unfamiliar with. Teach them not to talk with strangers, especially in vehicles, and NEVER get in a car.

• Have them know the family code word for if someone tries to take you away from home when walking down the street (which should only be used if it’s an emergency).

Important Reminder to Drivers

Do NOT pass a bus when it is stopped letting children off or picking them up. One could come around that bus and you smack them. If the red stop arm is out on the bus STOP!

Sad Facts about Bus accidents

Every year children die or are injured in school bus-related accidents. Many die as a result of a collision involving their bus with another vehicle while others are killed or hurt as they fail to clear the area around the bus or are hit by oncoming traffic.

You can keep your child safe by raising their awareness of potential hazards while the rest of us can make school bus safety a priority by obeying the rules of the road. Let’s make this school year a safe one!