At the Bus Stop
As a parent and a driver, you should know the reality of school buses and your children. The truth is that while school buses are one of the safest forms of highway transportation, the most dangerous time of the ride is during the pick-up and drop-off. This is due to several reasons including:
- Children are short: They have trouble seeing drivers and drivers have trouble seeing them.
- Children have limited peripheral vision: They can't see moving vehicles from either side of their field of vision as quickly as an adult can.
- Children have limited depth perception: They cannot accurately judge a vehicle's speed and distance.
- Children do not understand driving: They often believe vehicles can stop instantly.
Also, drivers often illegally pass school buses that are stopped as they let children get on or off the bus. This can create a dangerous situation.
With this in mind, it is important to teach children safe practices when waiting for the school bus. Here is some helpful advice you should pass along to your children before they begin riding the school bus:
- Arrive at the bus stop at least five minutes early.
- Stand at least five giant steps away from the edge of the road.
- Wait until the bus comes to a complete stop and the door opens before getting on the bus.
- Get on the bus one person at a time.
- If you drop something outside of the bus, do not run back and pick it up. Ask the driver before going back.
- Always stop, and look left, right and left again before walking in front of the bus.
- Walk in front of the bus; never walk behind the bus.
Also, it is very helpful if you wait with your children for their first few weeks of riding the bus. This will allow you to observe them and give you the opportunity to teach them the safe way to wait at the bus stop.
On the School Bus
When your children are ready to take the bus to their school or day care center, spend some time teaching them the safe way of riding the bus. Parents are responsible for teaching children how to behave on buses. Here are a few important lessons:
- Always sit completely in the seat and face forward.
- Remain seated during the entire bus ride.
- Obey the bus driver at all times.
- Speak in a low voice when talking to friends; no shouting.
- Keep your arms, legs, head and any belongings inside the bus and not outside the window.
By obeying these simple rules, your children will help make their bus ride a safe one.
The information above has been provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 
Crosswalks
Drop-Off & Pick-Up
Backpacks
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