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For more than 24 million
children nationwide, the first day of school will begin and end with a
ride on a school bus. Will your child be one of these 24 million? Does
he or she know about school bus safety? Many children do not know, and
unfortunately, each year many youngsters are injured and some are even
killed in school bus related incidents.
The National Safety Council has reported
that over the past 10 years, an average of 29 children were killed in
school bus-related pedestrian accidents — struck while getting on
or off a school bus. Between 1990 and 2000, an average of just six children
died as school bus passengers. Over 9,000 were injured in accidents involving
school buses.
What can you do to protect your child? Children
need to know about the dangers and responsibilities involved with riding
the bus. We need to talk to our children and educate them on bus safety.
Here are some safety tips.
Many students walk to and from the bus stop
every day. This is a huge responsibility and parents should stress this
to their children.
You should always walk
at the edge of the curb or street and look both ways before crossing.
If a parked car, a bush or any other obstacle impairs your vision, move
out to where passing motorists can see you and you can see them. Wait
until the traffic has passed and then cross the street, but keep on the
look out for vehicles.
When waiting for the bus, stay on the sidewalk
and as far away from traffic as possible. Be aware of your surroundings
and and avoid roughhousing or any careless behavior.
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Make a line to get
onto the school bus as the bus approaches, but make sure to stay on the
sidewalk until the bus comes to a complete stop and the driver signals
for you to enter the bus.
If you have to cross the street, make sure
you do it in front of the bus. Walk at least ten feet ahead of the bus
along side of the road until you can turn around and see the driver.
Wait for a signal from the driver that the
street is clear, and then cross quickly to the other side. Always stay
away from the rear wheels of the bus. This is a dangerous area because
the bus driver has a limited field of vision and may not see you. Also,
passing motorists may not be able to see you in this area either.
When riding on the bus, students can take
some precautions to ensure their safety.
When leaving the bus, make sure it comes
to a complete stop before you stand to exit. Use the handrails when stepping
on and out of the school bus. When entering the bus, move quickly to an
open seat and sit down. Do not stand up once the bus is in motion and
stay seated until the bus comes to a full and complete stop. Keep your
legs under the seat in front of you, and keep books and bags out of the
aisles. This will avoid tripping hazards and can block the way in case
of an emergency. Also, try to be courteous of the bus driver. Their goal
is to transport you safely to and from school. If children are moving
around and making noise, this can cause a distraction that can lead to
an accident.
If you take the time to talk to your child
about school bus safety, you can prevent a school bus related accident.
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