Tips for Parents and Students

Walking to the Bus Stop

  • Walk your young child to the bus stop and have older children walk in groups. There is safety in numbers; groups are easier for drivers to see.
  • Practice good pedestrian behavior. Your children should walk on the sidewalk; if there is no sidewalk, they should stay out of the street.
  • If they must walk in the street, they should walk single file, face traffic and stay as close to the edge of the road as they can.
  • Tell you child to stop and look left, right and then left again if they must cross the street. They should do the same thing at driveways and alleys.

Waiting at the Bus Stop

  • Don’t let your child play running games or push and shove at the bus stop. It is dangerous near traffic.
  • Make sure your child stands at least 10 feet (5 giant steps) from the road while waiting for the bus. The child will then be out of the way of traffic.

Getting On and Off the Bus

  • Warn children that if they drop something, they should never pick it up. Instead, they should tell the driver and follow the driver’s instructions. If they bend over to pick up a dropped object, they might not be seen by the driver and could be hurt if the driver pulls away from the stop.
  • Remind children to look to the right before they step off the bus. Drivers in a hurry sometimes try to sneak by busses on the right.
  • Teach your children to secure loose drawstrings and other objects that may get caught in the handrail or door of the bus as they are exiting.
  • Give your child a note or follow the school’s procedures if you would like for the child to get off at a stop other than the one they are assigned. The driver isn’t allowed to let a child off at another stop without written permission.
  • If you meet your child at the bus stop after school, wait on the side where the child will be dropped off, not across the street. Children can be so excited at seeing you after school that they dash across the street and forget the safety rules.

Tips for Students When Exiting the Bus

  • If you leave something on the bus, never return to the bus to get it. The driver may not see you come back and she may begin moving the bus.
  • Respect the “Danger Zone” which surrounds all sides of the bus. The “Danger Zone” is ten feet wide on all sides of the bus. Always remain 10 steps away from the bus to be out of the “Danger Zone” and where the driver can see you.
  • Always cross the street in front of the bus. Never go behind the bus. If you drop something near the bus, tell the bus driver before you attempt to pick it up, so they will know where you are.
  • Never speak to strangers at the bus stop and never get into the car with a stranger. Always go straight home and tell you parents if a stranger tries to

More on School Bus Safety from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration