School Bus Safety: You Can Help

National School Bus Safety Week is Oct. 19-23, 2009

     What is the safest way for kids in Missouri and Kansas to get to school? It’s on that big yellow bus. USA Today reported only 20 deaths resulted from school bus accidents in a recent year compared to 448 school-hour/ school-age deaths in cars driven by teens, 169 deaths in cars driven by adults, 131 deaths walking and 46 deaths bicycling. 

    Statistics about injuries were equally pro-bus. According to the Transportation Research Board, school buses represent 25 percent of the miles traveled by students but account for less than 4 percent of the injuries and 2 percent of the fatalities. The bad news is that, although fatal school bus accidents are few, almost three times as many children are killed while getting off or on the bus. The good news is that school busses are safe and you can help make them even safer. Here’s how:

• Observe state child restraint laws, which vary among school districts. In some areas, seat belts are required in new school buses but there is no requirement to use them. Encourage your children to buckle up. Join in local and national debates about seat belts and compartmentalization (i.e. side and front padding) on school buses. 
• Walk children to and from the bus stop or arrange for your children to be with a group. Allow plenty of time to get there and emphasize the importance of going straight to the bus stop. 
• Make children understand it’s very important to stand back from the curb, stepping ahead only after the bus comes to a complete stop and opens the doors. Then grab the handrail to climb aboard.
• Encourage children to take a seat quickly, face forward--and no monkeyshines! When you’re with your child at the bus stop, it’s a good opportunity to get to know the driver and bus monitor, if only with eye contact and a friendly wave. Let children see that all the adults are on the same team, all working together for serious safety. 
• Caution kids against putting anything out the window of any vehicle including the family car. Don’t set bad examples. 
• The National Safety Council recommends that children walk at least 10 steps away when crossing in front of the bus so the driver can see them. Never walk behind the bus, cautions the NSC. 
• If you see anything or anyone suspicious on the way to or at the bus stop, don’t assume someone else reported it. Call authorities. 
• Even if eating on the bus is allowed in your district, kids will be brighter, more alert and therefore safer if they have a nourishing breakfast at home. 
• The more parental participation in school bus safety events, the better. Judge a poster contest. Help with a fire drill. Volunteer to build or sponsor a bus shelter. Sign up to chaperone a field trip.
• Make sure children know what it says on the outside of the bus they will board after school or what signs to look for on a city or chartered bus before and after a special event. 
• If your children use a city bus, make sure they always have a valid pass or correct change in an easily accessible pocket so they can pay and be seated as quickly as possible. If you’re planning a group outing, work with the bus company to get group passes and transfers. This speeds up boarding so children can settle down more quickly. 
• When you’re shepherding a group aboard a commercial bus, emphasize the importance of finding a seat or handhold quickly. City bus drivers can’t wait for lollygagging kids. Signal the operator well in advance for the departure stop.
• Where possible, exit a commercial bus through the back doors, then move the group quickly to a safe area away from the curb.