School Bus Safety

During the school months, millions of children take to the streets and road ways to get to and from school. They walk, ride their bikes and arrive in cars. Every year approximately 440,000 public school buses travel over 4 billions miles to transport 24 million children to and from school. For many kids, this is their first time on a bus. It is fun and exciting, but we do need to remember a few safety rules.

They need to learn their bus number. Create a clever saying they can remember easily. Like: to school I won't be late because I ride bus number eight. Stay with a group while waiting at the bus stop. Once at the stop, do not leave until the bus arrives. If an adult approaches your child and ask for help or directions, tell them to remember that grownups needing help should not ask children they should only be asking other adults. Visit the bus stop with your child and role play situations that could arise. Show them where it is safe to wait and make boundaries so they are not too close to the street. Answer their questions about what to do if it starts raining and exactly what you want then to do in case of an emergency. As with anything, children learn more if they practice. Just a few ideas to help keep your children safe.