For nearly 22 million students across the U.S., the
school day starts and ends with a ride on a school bus. Unfortunately, each
year, many children are injured and some are killed in school bus related
incidents.
Accidents involving school buses on average kill 130 persons
and injure 17,000 persons a year. Around 70% of the fatalities are occupants of
vehicles other than the school bus and around 20% are pedestrians. Of the 20%
pedestrian fatalities, around half are school age (19 years or younger). The
final 10% accounts for fatalities of passengers of the school bus with roughly
8% being pupils and 2% being bus drivers. Of the people injured in school bus
related accidents 52% were occupants of the bus, 43% were occupants of other
vehicles, and 5% were pedestrians.
Under federal law all drivers are required to stop for a school
bus when it is stopped to load or unload passengers. However pupils should not
rely on over vehicles to stop. Parents should teach children the following
rules about getting on and off a school bus.
Waiting for/getting on the school bus
* While waiting
for the bus, stay away from the street and avoid behavior, such as
roughhousing, that can lead carelessness. Do not venture or stray away from the
pick up area. This means do not enter the street, an alley, or private
property.
* As the bus
approaches create a line away from the street.
* Wait until the
bus has come to a complete stop and the door opens before stepping onto the
roadway to board.
* Make sure to use
the safety hand rail, especially in wet or cold weather, when boarding the bus.
Behavior on the bus
* Upon boarding
the bus, locate a seat, be seated, and remain seated for the duration of your
trip. Loud talking or noise can be distracting to the driver and is only
permitted if there is a need to obtain the drivers attention for an emergency.
* Keep head, arms,
and hands inside the bus at all times.
* Keep books and
bags out of the aisle as these can become tripping hazards.
* Be ready to
leave before reaching your stop by gathering your belongings together.
* Upon reaching
your stop, wait for the bus to stop completely before standing.
* When exiting,
remember to use the safety hand rail, especially in wet or cold weather.
Off the bus/Crossing the street
* Before crossing
the street, walk at least ten feet ahead of the bus along the side of the road,
to a point where you can turn around and see the driver.
* Make sure that
the driver can see you.
* Wait for the
driver to signal that it is safe for you to cross the road.
* After the driver
signals, carefully cross the road, while keeping an eye out for sudden changes
in traffic.
* Stay away from
the bus' rear wheels at all times.
* Make sure to
continue to look left and right as you cross the road.
* If students'
vision is blocked by a parked car or other obstacle, they should move out to
where drivers can see them and they can see other vehicles -- then stop, and
look left-right-left again.