Teaching School Bus Safety to our Children

The article, “Parents Need to be Proactive in Helping to Teach School Bus Safety”, was recently included in the September 2011 edition of School Transportation News (STN).

 

The information in the article came from Susan Laurence, an Injury Prevention Coordinator for Trauma Services at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, a nationally recognized pediatric facility.

 

She states: “A blind spot extends about 10 feet in front of the bus, obstructing the driver’s view.  Oftentimes, children are not aware of this blind spot and might mistakenly believe that if they can see the bus, the bus driver can see them.”  “As children begin preparing to return to school, it’s important for parents and children to go over school bus safety tips together.”

 

The 10 foot area around the school bus, often called the Danger Zone, is the most dangerous area.  Drivers must mirrors to see some of these areas, but some cannot be seen.  It is why children running after buses is very concerning.  Drivers cannot always see these children, even with the mirrors.

 

Susan Laurence offered the following 12 specific suggestions to parents:

1. The child needs to arrive at the stop at least 5 minutes before the bus arrives.
2. Parents should encourage their child to avoid horseplay while waiting for the bus.
3. While on the bus, the child needs to remain seated, facing forward at all times and keep the aisles clear.
4. The child should not shout while on the bus or distract the driver unnecessarily.
5. The child needs to keep his head and arms inside the bus at all times.
6. Parents should make sure they remove loose drawstrings or ties on their child’s jacket and shirt because they can snag on bus handrails.
7. When boarding or leaving the bus, parents should tell their child to always walk in a single file line and use the handrail to avoid falls.
8. The child should look before stepping into the street to make sure there are no cars passing the bus.
9. The child should cross the street at least 10 feet in front of the bus.
10. The child needs to wait until the bus comes to a complete stop before exiting.
11. The child needs to exit from the front of the bus.
12. The child should ask the driver for help if an item dropped while entering or exiting the bus.