 |
|
|
Bus Safety Information
Students riding a school bus should always:
- Arrive at the bus stop ten minutes early.
- Stand at least 5 giant steps (10 feet) away from
the edge of the road.
- Wait until the bus stops, the door opens, and the
driver says it's okay before stepping onto the bus.
- Be careful that clothing with drawstrings and book
bags with straps or dangling objects do not get caught
in the handrail or door when exiting the bus.
- Check both ways for cars before stepping off the
bus.
Crossing students should
- Walk in front of the bus; never walk behind the
bus.
- Walk on the sidewalk or along the side of the road
to a point at least 10 giant steps ahead of the bus.
- Be sure the bus driver can see them, and they can
see the bus driver.
- Wait for the driver's signal to cross.
- The bus driver and others cannot see you if you
are standing closer than 10 feet to the bus.
Stay out of the danger zone!
- If something falls under or near the bus, tell the
driver. NEVER try to pick it up yourself!
- While waiting for the bus, stay in a safe place
away from the street.
- When you get on or off the bus, look for the bus
safety lights and make sure they are flashing.
- Be alert to traffic. When you get on or off the
bus, look left, right, left before you enter or cross
the street.
- When the driver says it is safe to cross the
street, remember to CROSS IN FRONT of the bus.
- Stay in your seat and sit quietly so that the
driver is not distracted.
- Many school buses now have seat belts. If you have
seat belts on your school bus, be sure to learn to use
the seat belt correctly.
Things Parents Should Know about School Bus Safety
- School buses are the safest form of highway
transportation.
- The most risky part of the school bus ride is
getting on and off the bus.
- Pedestrian fatalities (while loading and unloading
school buses), account for approximately three times as
many school bus-related fatalities, when compared to
school bus occupant fatalities.
- The loading and unloading area is called the
"Danger Zone".
- The "Danger Zone" is the area on all sides of the
bus where children are in the most danger of not being
seen by the driver (ten feet in front of the bus where
the driver may be too high to see a child, ten feet on
either side of the bus where a child may be in the
driver's blind spot, and the area behind the bus).
Half of the pedestrian fatalities in school
bus-related crashes are children between 5 and 7 years
old.
- Young children are most likely to be struck
because they:
- Hurry to get on and off the bus
- Act before they think and have little
experience with traffic
- Assume motorists will see them and will wait
for them to cross the street.
- Don't always stay within the bus driver's
sight
Things Drivers Should Know about School Bus Safety
- On a two-way street or highway, all drivers moving
in either direction must stop for a stopped school bus
which is picking up or dropping off children.
- You must remain stopped until all children are
clear of the roadway and the bus signal has been
withdrawn.
- If the highway is divided by a raised barrier or
an unpaved median at least five feet wide, you do not
have to stop if you are moving in the opposite
direction of the bus. Painted lines or pavement
markings are not considered to be barriers.
- If you are moving in the same direction as the
bus, you must always stop - and not go forward until
the bus stop signal has been withdrawn.
Violation of this law is considered a moving
violation and is subject to a mandatory hearing.
|
|
|
