Your child’s first trip on a school bus is one of the essential rites of passage for any young student, signifying a new level of independence. However, this new degree of autonomy comes with risks as well – risks you can help mitigate by teaching your growing child the following school bus safety tips.
School Bus Safety Tips For Kids
Start Early
The sooner you start teaching bus safety rules, the more your child will absorb them. Start discussing bus safety for kids in the weeks approaching their first school bus trip, and keep the concepts simple enough for them to understand.
Safe Waiting
School bus safety starts before the bus even arrives. To practice bus stop safety, help your child find a visible spot where they can wait, and ensure they understand that they should maintain a safe distance from the roadway. Teach your child to take three giant steps back from the curb. This keeps them close enough for the bus driver to see them, but far enough away to stay safe from traffic. Children should arrive at the bus stop at least 5 minutes before the scheduled pick-up time.
No Playing at the Bus Stop
The bus stop is not a playground. Even though several children may gather there, they should never play, run, or engage in roughhousing near the road. Horseplay at the bus stop puts children at risk of accidentally running into traffic or not paying attention when the bus arrives. Teach your child to stand calmly, watch for the bus, and pay attention to all traffic.
Look Both Ways
Some children forget that they must look both ways before they cross the street, even if they feel protected by walk signals or crossing guards. Remind them verbally and by example of the road safety rules every child should know and that they must check for oncoming traffic every time they are about to cross. This rule applies even when the bus has its stop arm extended and red lights flashing; unfortunately, drivers break traffic laws, and children must always verify it’s safe before crossing.
Crossing Signal
Bus drivers will give children a clear signal when it is safe to cross in front of the bus. Teach your kids to remain alert to this signal so they only cross when it is clear the driver sees them.
Wait for the Bus to Stop Completely
Children should never approach a school bus until it has come to a complete stop, the door opens, and the driver signals it’s safe to board. The flashing yellow lights mean the bus is preparing to stop. Children should stay back. Only when the lights turn red, the stop arm extends, and the driver opens the door should children board the bus.
Stay Seated
Children can become easily excitable when sharing a ride to school with their friends. However, standing up or moving around the vehicle can distract the driver and lead to severe injuries if an accident occurs. Children should find a seat quickly and sit down before the bus begins moving. Emphasize that they must remain seated when the school bus is moving. Only when the bus has completely stopped and the driver gives permission, should students stand up to exit.
Keep Hands, Arms, and Head Inside
School bus windows can often be opened by children. Explain to your child that they should never stick their hands, arms, or head out the window while the bus is moving. All body parts should stay safely inside the bus at all times.
Use Handrails
When boarding and exiting the bus, children should always use the handrail for support. This helps prevent slips and falls, especially in wet or icy conditions.
Emergency Readiness
School bus emergency procedures should be available on your school district’s website. Ensure your child is familiar with these guidelines, and assure them that drivers and staff will know how to handle an emergency if anything happens.
Visibility Matters
Early mornings can be dark in the winter. Dress your children in bright clothing or accessories during these times to ensure drivers can see them.
Walking Safely
If your child must walk any distance to the bus stop, walk the route with them several times before they do so on their own. Review our pedestrian safety tips for students so they understand the importance of walking on the sidewalk and obeying traffic rules. Children should always walk on the sidewalk when available, or on the left side of the road facing traffic if there is no sidewalk. They should never take shortcuts through yards or alleys and should be especially careful near driveways where cars may be backing out.
Role-Playing
Practicing your child’s school bus routine with them can help you both feel confident in their ability to safely navigate each aspect of the situation.
Lead by Example
Children often learn much more from what they see than what they hear. If you demonstrate safe behavior on the road, they will be more likely to be safe themselves. This is also why teaching safe road habits early pays off as children grow into teen drivers — the values instilled at the bus stop follow them for life.
School Policies
Each school system has its own bus safety rules and guidelines. Ensure that you and your child understand these policies thoroughly.
Positive Reinforcement
If your kids associate safe behavior with positive feelings, school bus safety will quickly become second nature. Rewarding them for practicing good safety habits will pay dividends well into the future. Praise your child when they follow safety rules, and consider a reward system for consistent safe behavior during the first few weeks of school bus riding.
If Your Child Was Injured in a School Bus Accident, Call Stewart Law Offices Today
Even if you and your child follow these safety tips to the letter, a school bus accident in South Carolina can still happen. In the most tragic cases, a fatal accident may give rise to a wrongful death claim in South Carolina. The school bus accident lawyers with Stewart Law Offices want to help you pursue the maximum compensation you deserve. Our South Carolina personal injury lawyers have decades of experience fighting for injured families across the state. Whether you need a personal injury lawyer serving Columbia families or a Rock Hill personal injury attorney, our team is ready to help. Contact us today for a free consultation to learn more about your legal options.