National School Bus Safety Week: October 21-25, 2024

At The Corson & Johnson Law Firm, we believe in protecting the well-being of our community, especially our children. National School Bus Safety Week, held from October 21 to October 25, 2024, is a great time to raise awareness and reinforce the importance of school bus safety. 

Here are some safety tips for parents, students, and drivers to follow to keep everyone safer on the road.

Safety Tips for Parents: Teach Your Child

  1. Stay Safe Around Buses – Make sure your child knows to stand at least 10 feet away from the curb while waiting for the bus. For smaller children, that’s about five giant steps away. Teach them to wait for the bus to come to a complete stop and the door opens, before approaching the bus.
  2. Use the Sidewalk – Teach your child to always use the sidewalk and never walk behind the bus. If there’s no sidewalk, remind them to walk on the side of the road that faces traffic.
  3. Make Eye Contact with the Driver – If your child needs to cross in front of the bus, teach them to make sure they are at least 10 feet away and they always make eye contact with the bus driver.
  4. Know the Danger Zones – Teach your child to always stay at least 10 feet from the bus unless they are getting on or off a stopped bus.  The area close to a bus is the danger zone where the driver has limited visibility and may not be able to see a child.

Safety Tips for Students

  1. Stay Seated on the Bus – While on the bus, students should remain seated facing forward with their back against the seat and their feet on the floor. This reduces the risk of injury in case of sudden stops.   If seat belts are provided, they should be used. 
  2. Follow the Driver’s Instructions – Students should always listen carefully to bus driver instructions and follow bus rules, such as keeping aisles clear and speaking quietly.
  3. Watch for Traffic When Getting Off the Bus – Always look both ways before crossing the street and use designated crosswalks when available. Never assume drivers will stop for the bus.
  4. Be Aware of Surroundings – Avoid distractions like using a phone or listening to music with earbuds while walking to or from the bus stop near roads, as this can reduce awareness of traffic and other potential hazards.

Safety Tips for Drivers

  1. Stop for School Buses – Flashing amber lights warn traffic that the bus is about to stop on the road to load or unload children. Prepare to stop. When the red lights flash, stop before reaching the bus and remain stopped until the driver turns off the flashing red lights. It’s good practice to stay at least 20 feet away from the bus, whether you’re behind or approaching from the opposite direction on undivided roadways.
  2. Be Especially Cautious in School Zones and Neighborhoods – Observe school speed limit zones, slow down, and be prepared for children who may suddenly run out from between parked cars or cross the street without warning.
  3. Stay Especially Alert – Watch for children not only when buses are present but also in neighborhoods before and after school hours when children may be out walking.
  4. Avoid Distractions – Always avoid distractions such as using a cellphone while driving.  That’s doubly true in areas with high foot traffic and near school bus routes. Your focus should be entirely on the road.

National School Bus Safety Week is an important reminder for everyone – parents, students, and drivers – to work together to protect our community’s children.  By following these simple tips, we can all help create a safer environment for our children to travel to and from school.