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School Safety
Tips
Riding the Bus
School bus transportation is safe. In fact, buses are safer
than cars! Even so, last year, approximately 26 students were
killed and another 9,000 were injured in incidents involving
school buses. More often than not, these deaths and injuries
didn't occur in a crash, but as the pupils were entering and
exiting the bus. Remember these safety tips:
- Have a safe place to wait for your bus, away from
traffic and the street.
- Stay away from the bus until it comes to a complete stop
and the driver signals you to enter.
- When being dropped off, exit the bus and walk ten giant
steps away from the bus. Keep a safe distance between you
and the bus. Also, remember that the bus driver can see
you best when you are back away from the bus.
- Use the handrail to enter and exit the bus.
- Stay away from the bus until the driver gives his/her
signal that it's okay to approach.
- Be aware of the street traffic around you. Drivers are
required to follow certain rules of the road concerning
school buses, however, not all do. Protect yourself and
watch out!
Check
out the National Safety Council's Fact Sheet on School Bus
Safety Rules.
Walking and
Biking to School
Even if you don't ride in a motor vehicle, you still have to
protect yourself. Because of minimal supervision, young
pedestrians face a wide variety of decisions making situations
and dangers while walking to and from school. Here are a few
basic safety tips to follow:
- Mind all traffic signals and/or the crossing guard --
never cross the street against a light, even if you don't
see any traffic coming.
- Walk your bike through intersections.
- Walk with a buddy.
- Wear reflective material...it makes you more visible to
street traffic.
The Partnership
for a Walkable America has some more information on this
topic.
Riding in a Car
- You might have heard before that most traffic crashes
occur close to home ... they do.
- Safety belts are the best form of protection passengers
have in the event of a crash. They can lower your risk of
injury by 45%.
- You are four times more likely to be seriously injured
or killed if ejected from the vehicle in a crash.
- Everyone needs to be buckled up properly. That means
older kids in seat belts, younger kids in booster seats
and little kids in child safety seats.
