WJHS News - School Bus Safety Tips for Parents

[Ellen Mead]

SCHOOL BUS SAFETY TIPS FOR PARENTS
266 Hudson Ave Albany, New York
12210
518-463-4937 ~ 518-463-8743 FAX
WWW.NYAPT.ORG

SCHOOL BUS SAFETY WEEK ~ OCTOBER 19-23, 2009
Below are some safety tips to teach children how to be safe around
school buses

Have your children put everything they have to carry in a backpack or
school bag so they
won’t drop things along the way.

Make sure your children leave home on time so they can walk to the bus
stop and arrive
before the bus is due. Running can be dangerous.

Go to the bus stop with a young child and have older children walk in
groups. There is
safety in numbers because groups are easier for bus drivers to see.

Make sure your children stand at least 10 feet (5 giant steps) from
the road while waiting for
the school bus. Have younger children practice taking 5 giant steps to
become familiar with
10 feet.

Warn your children that if they drop something near the bus, they
should never pick it up.
Instead, they should tell the driver and follow the drivers
instructions.

Teach your children to secure loose drawstrings, scarves, loose
fitting or baggy clothing, and other objects that could get caught in
a handrail or the door of the school bus as they are exiting.

According to the National Traffic Safety Administration, a child’s
greatest risk
is not riding a school bus, but getting to the bus and entering and
leaving it.