2022 National School Bus Safety Week (October 17-21)
2022 National School Bus Safety Week (October 17-21)
Each October, National School Bus Safety Week raises awareness amongst parents, students, teachers, motorists, school bus operators, school administrators, and the greater community to address the importance of school bus safety.
Artwork: Jihyeon (Elly) Han, Altamont Grade School, Kansas, USA
Content originally published by the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT)
School Bus Transportation plays a critical role in the education of our nation’s students and is the direct link between a neighborhood and the classroom. MORE THAN 25 MILLION CHILDREN ride a school bus every single school day. National School Bus Safety Weekaims to raise awareness amongst parents, students, teachers, motorists, school bus operators, school administrators, and the greater community to address the importance of school bus safety.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE — share these year-round safety tips with your family:
TIP #1 / Safety While Getting Ready for School
Have your children put everything they carry in a backpack or school bag so that they won’t drop things along the way.
Encourage your children to wear bright, contrasting colors so they will be more easily seen by All drivers.
Make sure your children leave home on time so they can arrive at the school bus stop before it arrives, ideally five minutes early.
Do not let your children run after or in front of the school bus.
TIP #2 / Safety While Walking to the School Bus Stop
If you have young children, walk them to the school bus stop or encourage them to walk in groups. There is safety in numbers — groups are easier to see!
Practice good pedestrian behavior with your children such as walking on the sidewalk.
If you must walk in the street — walk in single file, facing traffic and stay close to the edge of the road.
If you must cross the street — STOP, look LEFT, look RIGHT, then look LEFT again before you cross. Do the same thing at driveways and alleys.
Exaggerate your head turns and narrate your actions so your child knows you are looking LEFT, RIGHT and LEFT.
TIP #3 / Safety at the School Bus Stop
Have your children wait in a location where the school bus driver can clearly see them when driving down the street. Try to avoid waiting in a house or car.
Do not let your children play in the street.
Do not let your children play with balls or other toys that could roll into the street and cause a dangerous situation.
TIP #4 / Safety When Getting On & Off the School Bus
Warn your children that if they drop something while getting on and off the school bus, they should never pick it up! Instead, they should tell the school bus driver and follow instructions.
Remind your children to look to the RIGHT before they step off the school bus.
If you meet your children after school dismisses at the school bus stop, wait on the side of the street where the child will be dropped off to avoid your children dashing across the street and forgetting safety rules.
TIP #5 / Safety While Using Mobile Devices Cell phones and other electronic devices may be permitted on the school bus:
If the device(s) remain in the children’s backpacks or other holders, keeping their hands free to use handrails while boarding and departing the school bus.
If the sound from the device(s) is muted or headphones, ear buds or similar noise-cancelling devices are used.
If the content played on the device(s) does not violate the law or any school district policy and/or procedure.
If the device(s) does not create distraction for the riders or the school bus driver.
