NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665
August 31, 2000
NDSU Specialist Urges Safety First on the School Bus
As the days of summer wane, many children are already riding the bus to school. Active
youngsters, poor light conditions and cumbersome school buses increase the chance of an
accident at bus stops.
"The combined efforts of youngsters, parents and drivers can help reduce the
hazards," says George Maher, a safety specialist with the North Dakota State
University Extension Service. He offers the following tips.
- Remind children to stay out of the loading zone when waiting for the bus. School bus
drivers receive training each year to improve their degree of skill and caution, and
students need to do their part to be cautious and careful.
- Reflective appliques or accents applied to
bright clothing can make children more visible. The pre-dawn hours can be particularly
dangerous because children may not be easily seen.
- If possible, select a well-lighted area for
the bus pickup point. Close to the yard light may be a good place.
- Enforce a no-horseplay and a no-rough-housing
rule at the bus stop. Children who are rough-housing at the bus stop are unpredictable and
may move into harm’s way quickly. Bus drivers may not be able to react fast enough to
prevent an accident.
- The school bus should be allowed to come to a
complete stop and the door opened before riders enter the loading zone. Students should
not cross the road in front of the school bus until it has come to a complete stop with
the stop signal extended and the driver has signaled for them to cross.
- Students should form a single line with no
pushing or shoving before boarding the bus. There should be no pushing or shoving as
students get on the bus and they should go right to their seats.
"Practicing safety and courtesy will always help to make the school bus ride safer
and more enjoyable," Maher says. "Safety needs to be a key concern once the bus
is moving too. He offers some additional suggestions that will allow bus riders to have a
safer and more enjoyable ride.
- Always stay in your seat whenever the bus is
moving, or when other students are getting on or off.
- Do not distract the bus driver with long
conversations.
- Keep the volume down on portable radios and
cassette players so you are able to hear instructions from the bus driver.
- When transferring to another bus, go directly
to it as directed by the bus drivers.
- Leave the unloading zone as soon as you get
off the bus. Don't linger because the driver may not be able to see you.
- Don’t push. The bus driver will always
give you time to safely get on or off the bus.
- Don't throw things at other students or out the windows.
- Be patient with younger and smaller children. Set a good example for them.
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Source: George Maher, (701) 231-8288
Editor: Tom Jirik, (701) 231-9629