An injury prevention expert at the nation’s third highest-ranking children’s hospital according to U.S. News and World Report offered a dozen tips for parents to consider when preparing their children to ride the bus as the new school year is about to begin.
Susan Laurence, an injury prevention coordinator for trauma services at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, said the majority of student injuries on or around the school bus occur while boarding or exiting. NHTSA says an average of 19 school-age occupants as well as student pedestrians die each year in school bus crashes, usually while the bus is loading or unloading.
“A blind spot extends about 10 feet in front of the bus, obstructing the driver’s view,” she explained of the area known to student transporters as the “danger zone.” “Often times, children are not aware of this blind spot and might mistakenly believe that if they can see the bus, the bus driver can see them.”
Laurence listed 12 specific topics to discuss with their children as they return to riding the school bus or prepare to begin riding for the first time:
- The child needs to arrive at the stop at least five minutes before the bus arrives
- Parents should encourage their child to avoid horseplay while waiting on the bus
- While on the bus, the child needs to remain seated, forward facing at all times and keep the aisles clear
- The child should not shout while on the bus or distract the driver unnecessarily
- The child needs to keep his head and arms inside the bus at all times
- Parents should make sure that they remove loose drawstrings or ties on their child’s jacket and sweatshirt because they can snag on bus handrails
- When boarding or leaving the bus, parents should tell their child to always walk in a single file line and use the handrail to avoid falls
- The child should look before stepping into the street to make sure there are no cars passing the bus
- The child should cross the street at least 10 feet (or five giant steps) in front of the bus
- The child needs to wait until the bus comes to a complete stop before exiting
- The child needs to exit from the front of the bus.
- The child should ask the bus driver for help if anything is dropped while entering or exiting the bus
“As children begin preparing to return to school, it’s important for parents and children to go over school bus safety tips together,” Laurence added. “This will help ensure a safe, enjoyable start to the school year for everyone.”
