Students Riding a School Bus Should Always

• Arrive at the bus stop five minutes early.
• Stand at least 5 giant steps (10 feet) away from the edge of the road.
• Wait until the bus stops, the door opens, and the driver says it’s okay before stepping onto the bus.
• Be careful that clothing with drawstrings and book bags with straps or dangling objects do not get caught in the handrail or door when exiting the bus.
• Check both ways for cars before stepping off the bus.

While the school bus is one of the safest ways to travel to and from school, students need to understand and be aware of keeping safe distances and understanding the bus DANGER zones.

It is important that students are always visible to the driver while at the stop, boarding the bus and getting off the bus.

Here are some tips to teach your students:

• With the upcoming time changes, this means darker mornings. Students should wear bright colored clothing or have reflective equipment and or flash lights at the bus stop in the mornings to ensure they are visible to the driver.

• Students should keep a safe distance away from the bus- 5 giant steps away

• Younger children should be supervised at the bus stop. Practice safe loading by forming a single file line.

• Students who cross in front of the bus should stay at least 10-15 feet away (5-10 giant steps) from the front of the bus AND make eye contact with the driver before crossing.

• Students should arrive to the bus stop 5 minutes early and be prepared to board the bus once the bus comes to a complete stop.

• Don’t rush the bus – students should wait until the bus comes to a complete stop before approaching the school bus to board and exiting the bus.

• If a student drops something outside of the school bus, they should NEVER try to pick it up. Advise the student to tell the driver and wait for their instructions.

• Students should NEVER walk behind the school bus or chase down the school bus.

This information was provided by the National School Bus Safety Week Committee.

Motorist Information : STOP for a school bus , it's the LAW!