|
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 Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) reports that every year, on average, 23 children are struck while
loading and unloading around school buses. In most cases, the report continues,
the child is waiting to board the bus or has just gotten off and is struck
by the bus or a passing motorist. Since bus drivers are faced with several
blind spots, they are not always able to see students walking in front
of or behind the bus. According to NHTSA, there are three times as many
pedestrian fatalities as school bus occupant fatalities. Since more children
are killed outside the school bus, it is important to know all the safety
issues.
What can you do to protect your child? Children
need to know about the "danger zones," and you should instruct them on
how to safely get on and off 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 continue to look both directions
for oncoming vehicles.
|
|
When waiting for the
bus, stay on the sidewalk and as far away from traffic as possible. Be
aware of your surroundings and avoid roughhousing or any careless behavior.
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 10 feet ahead of the bus
along side of the road until you can turn around and see the driver.
Remind your child to always 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. As noted
in the illustration, there are three "danger zones" when loading and unloading
the bus. Make sure your child is aware of each area.
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 should not 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 just may prevent a school bus related accident.
|
|
