With school now in full swing, it is important to remind ourselves about how to stay safe both on and around school buses. According to a recent study about school bus crashes in the United States, there were 976 fatal school crashes between 2013 and 2022, with occupants of other vehicles and pedestrians being the most common victims. To help raise awareness and reduce the number of these tragic accidents, let’s explore some essential school bus safety tips for bus drivers, other drivers, and students.
Safety Tips For School Bus Drivers
Bus drivers have a responsibility to ensure the safety of the students that they transport to and from school each day. Here are some safety tips that bus drivers should follow:
- Conduct Pre-Trip Inspections: Before hitting the road, it is important for bus drivers to conduct a thorough inspection of their vehicle. This includes checking tire pressure and brake lights, as well as emergency exits. A malfunctioning part on the school bus can result in a serious accident or delays in arrival and departure times.
- Obey Posted Speed Limits: It is vital that school bus drivers follow posted speed limits, particularly in school zones and residential areas, where speed limits are often lower and students may unexpectedly run into the street. Speeding in a school bus can greatly increase the risk of a severe accident occurring.
- Enforce On-Bus Safety: A final responsibility that bus drivers must take on is ensuring the safety of their passengers. School bus drivers should enforce clear safety rules such as remaining seated at all times and keeping seat belts fastened.
Safety Tips For Drivers
Drivers sharing the road with school buses play a critical role in ensuring school bus safety. Since occupants of other vehicles are often the ones most frequently killed or injured in school bus accidents, they must take the proper precautions, including:
- Stop For Flashing Lights: When a school bus has its stop sign extended and its red flashing lights activated, drivers from both directions must come to a complete stop. Passing a stopped school bus is illegal and can result in hefty fines and a serious accident.
- Be Extra Cautious in School Zones: School zones often have reduced speed limits to ensure the safety of students. Drivers must slow down, keep an eye out for children crossing the street, and adhere to traffic control personnel.
- Be Aware of Bus Blind Spots: School buses have larger blind spots than the average motor vehicle. Thus, it is important to be particularly cautious of driving around buses and avoid tailgating or cutting them off.
Safety Tips For Students
Students also play a crucial role in ensuring their safety when it comes to riding on the bus and walking near a school bus. Here are some key safety tips that students should implement:
- Exercise Caution When Entering and Exiting the Bus: If you are getting on or off the bus, it is important to look to the bus driver or traffic director for a signal indicating that it is safe to cross the street. While waiting for the bus to approach, children should stay away from the curb in the designated waiting area. Failure to do so can put your safety at risk.
- Stay Seated on the Bus: While riding the bus, it is crucial that students remain seated at all times, keeping the aisles clear. Students who are standing or moving around while the bus is in motion are more susceptible to suffering severe injuries if the bus comes to a sudden halt or crashes with another vehicle.
- Never Walk Behind the Bus: One of the main blind spots for school buses is directly behind the vehicle. Therefore, students should always avoid walking behind the bus so that the bus driver has a clear view of them.