School Bus Safety - What To Teach Your Kids
Over 20 million children nationwide ride the school bus every day.
While school buses are regulated to some extent by federal law, not all states have the same safety standards.
For example, New York, New Jersey, and Florida all have state laws in place which require school buses to have lap belts installed for student use.
No federal law exists, however, which makes this a national standard.
In fact, the debate over seat belts in school buses has been going on for years.
That being said, school buses do not have a bad safety record.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, school buses have some of the best safety records on the road in terms of deaths per distance traveled - just 0.
2 deaths per 100 million miles.
Furthermore, while some 30,000 people died in passenger vehicles crashes during 2004 alone, only 71 school bus passengers have died in accidents in the past eleven years combined.
Of course, as scintillating as the statistics may be, no one can argue that they are perfect.
Children are society's most valued resource, and it only takes the death of one child to make a significant impact on a family and community.
One must also consider that many more children die as a result of being hit by buses than do while passengers on a bus.
Even though bus drivers are required to undergo safety training and to take extra precautions due to the nature of their job, accidents happen.
Nearby drivers may also be at fault.
Despite laws which require motorists to stop for school buses, thousands upon thousands of irresponsible drivers ignore these laws daily, creating a serious safety risk for children getting off the bus.
As a parent, one of the best things you can do is reinforce bus safety guidelines with your child.
Even though such rules may already be communicated in school, children often look to their parents to give the final word on issues.
Be ready to answer questions your child may have, and make sure he or she understands how to be safe around buses.
-When waiting for the bus, stand several feet away from the curb.
Do not enter the street or attempt to board the bus until it has come to a complete stop and opened its doors.
-While riding the bus, do not distract or otherwise aggravate the driver.
Keep backpacks, lunchboxes, and other objects out of the aisle, as these create tripping hazards.
-When getting off the bus, use the handrail and watch your step.
Try not to cross in front of the bus.
If you must do so, walk several feet ahead of the bus and wait for the driver to signal for you to cross.
Watch out for passing motorists when crossing the street.
-Never, under any circumstances, crawl under the bus.
Not even to retrieve lost property.
Teaching your child to respect these safety guidelines can reduce the chance of a devastating accident on the bus, at the bus stop, or at school.
While school buses are regulated to some extent by federal law, not all states have the same safety standards.
For example, New York, New Jersey, and Florida all have state laws in place which require school buses to have lap belts installed for student use.
No federal law exists, however, which makes this a national standard.
In fact, the debate over seat belts in school buses has been going on for years.
That being said, school buses do not have a bad safety record.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, school buses have some of the best safety records on the road in terms of deaths per distance traveled - just 0.
2 deaths per 100 million miles.
Furthermore, while some 30,000 people died in passenger vehicles crashes during 2004 alone, only 71 school bus passengers have died in accidents in the past eleven years combined.
Of course, as scintillating as the statistics may be, no one can argue that they are perfect.
Children are society's most valued resource, and it only takes the death of one child to make a significant impact on a family and community.
One must also consider that many more children die as a result of being hit by buses than do while passengers on a bus.
Even though bus drivers are required to undergo safety training and to take extra precautions due to the nature of their job, accidents happen.
Nearby drivers may also be at fault.
Despite laws which require motorists to stop for school buses, thousands upon thousands of irresponsible drivers ignore these laws daily, creating a serious safety risk for children getting off the bus.
As a parent, one of the best things you can do is reinforce bus safety guidelines with your child.
Even though such rules may already be communicated in school, children often look to their parents to give the final word on issues.
Be ready to answer questions your child may have, and make sure he or she understands how to be safe around buses.
-When waiting for the bus, stand several feet away from the curb.
Do not enter the street or attempt to board the bus until it has come to a complete stop and opened its doors.
-While riding the bus, do not distract or otherwise aggravate the driver.
Keep backpacks, lunchboxes, and other objects out of the aisle, as these create tripping hazards.
-When getting off the bus, use the handrail and watch your step.
Try not to cross in front of the bus.
If you must do so, walk several feet ahead of the bus and wait for the driver to signal for you to cross.
Watch out for passing motorists when crossing the street.
-Never, under any circumstances, crawl under the bus.
Not even to retrieve lost property.
Teaching your child to respect these safety guidelines can reduce the chance of a devastating accident on the bus, at the bus stop, or at school.
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