What are some tips for school bus drivers?
As school bus drivers, you are an important part of a total safety program for children who travel by school bus. If children know how to be safe pedestrians around a school bus, they can learn to be safe pedestrians anywhere. Here are tips for school bus pedestrian safety:
1.
Approximately 150 and 300 feet before every stop, turn your yellow lights on. These lights tell motorists that you intend to stop. They also tell waiting children that you plan to stop so they can line up and be ready to cross the street or enter the bus.
2.
Always stop the bus as far to the right side of the road as possible to prevent cars from sneaking by on the right. If children must cross the street to your bus, stop 10 feet before the spot where the children cross. When the roads are slippery, stop well short (20 feet) of the bust stop and slowly ease the bus to the normal stopping point.
3.
After stopping, open the door to activate the flashing red lights and to release the stop signal arm. This tells approaching motorists to stop from both directions. Open the door fully when cars from both directions have stopped.
4.
Never permit a child to cross the street behind the bus. Personally correct and promptly report any child attempting to do so.
5.
Before you leave the bus stop, take one last look for stragglers. Be sure to check all your mirrors. Remind any latecomers of the importance of being on time for the school bus. When all children have boarded, close the door. Pull out into traffic only when all children are seated and it is safe to go
6.
On the way home, activate the yellow flashing lights from 150 -300 feet prior to each bus stop. Be alert for draw strings and other loose items as each child exits the bus.
7.
Remind children that, if they drop something near the bus, they are to tell you and to follow your directions. Under no circumstances are children to pick up anything they have dropped near the bus unless they have your permission.
8.
Don't ever allow children to leave the bus at any stop other than their regular stop unless you have proper authorization according to your district's policies.
9.
Don't ever change your route at the request of a parent or child. Always check with your supervisor first. Even if you must alter the route due to an unforeseen problem, do not change it in a way that would require a child to cross the street when a child normally does not have to do so.
10.
At the completion of your run, check to see that all seats on the bus are empty. When your trip is complete, you want to be sure no child is left on the bus.