It’s that time of year again. The fresh crayon smell is gone from your neighborhood, the mountains of supplies have been counted one-by-one, and the kids are about ready for a vacation. We thought now would be a great time to talk about bus safety, just as we are getting settled into our routines with getting kids to school and, even if we don’t have kids, we have learned to maneuver the change in traffic.
For parents and kids:
- Be sure and arrive on time for the school bus. The range of injuries that can occur when running late for a bus can be as small as tripping on a shoelace or as disastrous as inattentively running in the path of a moving car.
- Don’t carry loose items or have loose items hanging from clothing. Children should not carry anything that can be dropped – it should be stowed safely in a backpack. Loose hanging items on clothing might catch on mechanical things, like the door, the door handle, etc.
- While on the bus, remain seated and keep voice at a low level. The driver needs minimal distraction and children should remain attentive and prepared in case of emergency. Well, as much as possible.
- Bus stops should be well lit and allow children to be a safe distance from the street. If a current bus stop is not safe, contact the school administrators to move it.
For motorists:
- Slow down and obey traffic laws.
- Do not pass a bus during loading or unloading.
- Always be cautious and keep an eye out for children near school buses; they are known to suddenly appear out of thin air. Navigate carefully and look for kids crossing in front or behind a bus.
