Safety Tips for Students/Parents
Riding the Bus / Van
School bus / van transportation is safe. In fact, buses or vans are safer than cars! Even so, every year, thousands of students are injured and some killed in incidents involving school buses. More often than not, these deaths and injuries didn’t occur in a crash, but as the pupils were entering and exiting the bus. Remember these safety tips:
- Have a safe place to wait for your bus / van, away from traffic and the street. Stay away from the bus / van until it comes to complete stop and the driver signals you to enter.
- When being dropped off, exit the bus and walk ten giant steps away from the bus / van. Keep a safe distance between you and the bus. Also, remember that the bus / van driver can see you best when you are back away from the bus / van.
- Use the handrail to enter and exit the bus / van.
- Be aware the street traffic around you. Drivers are required to follow certain rules of the road concerning school buses / vans, however, not all do. Protect yourself and watch out when going to and away from the bus or van!
Walking and Biking to School
Even if you don’t ride in a motor vehicle, you still have to protect yourself. Because of minimal supervision, young pedestrians face a wide variety of decision- making situations and dangers while walking to and from school. Here are a few basic safety tips to follow:
- Mind all traffic signals and /or the crossing guard – never cross the street against a light, even if you don’t see any traffic coming.
- Walk your bike through intersections and use the cross walk.
- Walk with a buddy or parents.
- Wear reflective material&helip;it makes you more visible to street traffic.
Riding in a Car
- Safety belts are the best form of protection passengers has in the event of a crash. They can lower your risk of injury by 45%.
- You are four times more likely to be seriously injured or killed if ejected from the vehicle in a crash.
- Everyone needs to be buckled up properly. That means older kids in seat belts, younger kids in booster seats and little kids in child safety seats.
Parents, please do not park in areas designated for “School Buses only”.
Safety Rule and Tips for Students
It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to ensure the safety of the child traveling to and from the stop location. Brockton Public Schools does not support the practice of traveling to and from the stops without an appropriate escort.
- Remain seated and facing forward while on the bus.
- Speak in quiet voices.
- Eating food, candy and gum is not allowed while riding on the bus.
- Keep jacket and sweatshirt drawstrings, backpack straps, scarves and loose clothing tucked in.
- Keep all parts of your body inside the bus. Do not put any item or body part out of the window.
- Keep your belongings and your body from blocking the aisle or exits.
- Listen and obey the instructions of the driver. As the bus is an extension of the classroom, the driver is the school principal’s representative on the bus.
- The danger zone around a bus must be avoided. This is the area where the driver cannot see or has limited vision.
- If you can touch the bus while standing outside, you are much too close.
- If you cannot see the driver, the driver cannot see you.
Waiting for the Yellow Bus
- Always arrive 10 minutes prior to the bus pick-up time.
- Respect the private property around the bus stop location.
- Wait for the bus at a safe place away from the road.
- Line up in an orderly fashion before loading the bus. Never run to or from a bus.
- Wait for the bus to come to a complete stop before approaching and boarding.
- Ensure that your belongings are ready for loading and storage.
- Avoid the danger zone, if you can touch the bus..you are too close.
Getting on and off the Yellow Bus
- The bus must be at a complete stop before getting on and off the bus.
- Use the handrails and climb one stair at a time.
- Do not push or shove.
National School Bus Safety Week
School bus safety week is observed every October (3rd week) to promote school bus safety awareness.