Back To School Means Following School Bus Safety

With fall upon us and children back in school, it is a perfect time to take a look at school bus safety. While the school bus is the safest vehicle on the road and your child is much safer taking a bus to and from school than traveling by car, it all depends on the other drivers on the road. That is why it is crucial to refresh yourself on school bus safety and laws.

School Bus Safety

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration believes school buses should be as safe as possible. Because of that, the safety standards for school buses are above and beyond those for regular buses. School buses are the most regulated vehicles on the road. They’re designed to be safer than passenger vehicles in preventing crashes and injuries; and in every state, stop-arm laws protect children from other motorists.

• Different by Design: School buses are designed so that they’re highly visible and include safety features such as flashing red lights, cross-view mirrors and stop-sign arms. They also include protective seating, high crush standards and rollover protection features.
• Protected by the Law: Laws protect students who are getting off and on a school bus by making it illegal for drivers to pass a school bus while dropping off or picking up passengers, regardless of the direction of approach.

Bus Stop Safety

While riding inside a bus is pretty safe for children, the greatest risk to children is approaching or leaving a bus. That is why it is important for you and your child to know traffic safety rules. Follow these practices to make school bus transportation safer.

For Parents

The true safety of your child starts at the bus stop. Follow these steps:

• Arrive at the bus stop at least five minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive.
• Visit the bus stop and show your child where to wait for the bus: at least three giant steps (six feet) away from the curb.
• Remind your child that the bus stop is not a place to run or play.

When the bus does arrive, you want to make sure your child is getting on and off the bus safely:

• Your child should wait until the bus comes to a complete stop, the door opens, and the driver says it’s okay before approaching the bus door.
• Your child should use the handrails to avoid falling.

The biggest key to bus stop safety is making sure to use caution around the bus, which includes these practices:

• Your child should never walk behind a school bus.
• If your child must cross the street in front of the bus, tell them to walk on a sidewalk or along the side of the street to a place at least five giant steps (10 feet) in front of the bus before crossing.
• Your child should also make eye contact with the bus driver before crossing to make sure the driver can see them.
• If your child drops something near the school bus, like a ball or book, the safest thing is for your child to tell the bus driver right away. Your child should not try to pick up the item, because the driver might not be able to see them.

For Drivers

With the parents and students doing their part, it is also crucial for drivers to make school bus transportation safer for everyone. To do so, they should be following these practices:

• When backing out of a driveway or leaving a garage, watch out for children walking or bicycling to school.
• When driving in neighborhoods with school zones, watch out for young people who may be thinking about getting to school, but may not be thinking of getting there safely.
• Slow down. Watch for children walking in the street, especially if there are no sidewalks in the neighborhood.
• Watch for children playing and congregating near bus stops.
• Be alert. Children arriving late for the bus may dart into the street without looking for traffic.
• Learn and obey the school bus laws in your state, as well as the "flashing signal light system" that school bus drivers use to alert motorists of pending actions:
• Yellow flashing lights indicate the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. Motorists should slow down and prepare to stop their vehicles.
• Red flashing lights and extended stop arms indicate the bus has stopped and children are getting on or off. Motorists must stop their cars and wait until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop-arm is withdrawn, and the bus begins moving before they can start driving again.
• For school bus drivers, regular training is important to stay up-to-date on the latest industry standards and to help them maintain and improve the safety of children in and around the school bus. NHTSA is now offering an improved School Bus Driver In-Service Curriculum.

As you can see, it is a team effort in making sure children get to school safely every day. With parents, students, bus drivers and drivers on the road all working together, we can make sure kids arrive to school safely on a daily basis.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our friendly support staff. If you want to start your driver's training journey with Coastline Academy, make sure to sign up for Drivers Ed and book your driving lesson today.