School Bus Safety Tips

In honor of National School Bus Safety Week, which runs through the third full week in October each year, we have compiled some important tips. This year the event runs from October 21^st to 25^th. According to the National Association for Pupil Transportation, or NAPT, the active and evolving public education program provides an excellent way for students, parents, teachers, motorists, school bus operators, school administrators, and other interested parties to promote school bus safety. With the new school year just underway, there is no better time than now to brush up on a few useful pointers!

The NSC, or National Safety Council, reports that around 25 million students take the bus across the country to and/or from school each day. Hailed as the safest mode of transportation for school-aged students, school buses offer a variety of safety features like their bright yellow color, large mirrors, flashing lights, and stop-sign arms. School bus designers and manufacturers install features like these to boost visibility and limit accidents; the safest school buses have seat belts, though not all have them. Another crucial safety feature that school buses offer is protection through compartmentalization. Seats are spaced closely together with high, energy-absorbing seat backs; this not only limits potentially dangerous movements but also creates a compact, protected area around bus riders.

The one major obstacle when it comes to making school buses even safer is seat belts. The NSC joined with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in 2015 to show support for lap and shoulder belts on school buses. Although the NHTSA requires lap and/or lap and shoulder belts on small buses that weigh 10,000 pounds or less, the decision on whether to install them on larger buses is left up to each state to decide. Currently, only eight states (Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, California, Nevada, New Jersey, Louisiana, and New York) require seat belts to be installed on larger buses. Even though not all school buses have seat belts, they are still the most secure travel option for students. In fact, the NSC reports that nearly two-thirds of school bus-related fatalities of school-age children occur outside, not on, the bus.

Safety Recommendations

No matter how safe school buses may be, it is crucial to discuss safety measures with your student(s). Here’s what the NSC recommends children remember when they are at, around, and getting on and/or off the school bus:

• Arrive early to the bus stop – at least five minutes before the bus is supposed to arrive
• Stand six feet, or three giant steps, away from the curb while waiting for the bus
• Always supervise young children
• Never walk behind the bus
• Cross in front of the bus – at least ten feet (or five giant steps) – and be sure to make eye contact with the driver before you cross
• If you drop something near the bus, do not pick it up; tell the driver instead
• Use the handrail when you are getting on or off the bus
• Wait until the bus has stopped and the door opens before approaching or standing up on the bus
• Secure any loose or hanging objects (like straps on a backpack or drawstrings on a hood) before entering or exiting the bus
• Whenever seat belts are available, buckle up!
• Stay in your seat. Keep your head, arms, and papers inside the bus at all times
• Speak quietly
• Keep aisles clear of books and bags

Drivers need to be very cautious as they share the road with school buses – especially before and after school hours. The NSC has an assortment of tips for how drivers can do their part to ensure that everyone gets home safely at the end of the day. Here are some examples:

• In a school zone, when flashers are blinking, stop and yield to pedestrians crossing the crosswalk or intersection
• Never pass a bus from behind (or from either direction if you are traveling on an undivided road) if it is stopped to load or unload children. If the yellow or red lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended, traffic must stop
• Take extra care to look for children in school zones, near playgrounds and parks, and in all residential areas
• Be alert! Children can act unpredictably and sometimes ignore hazards and risks. Drive responsibly, obey posted signage and speed limits, and avoid all distractions when you are behind the wheel

To learn more about National School Bus Safety Week, visit https://www.napt.org/nsbsw. If you have questions about filing a legal claim for a school bus-related injury or accident, someone at our firm can help. Contact a representative online now.

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If you have questions about filing a claim for injuries you sustained, contact the Philadelphia personal injury attorneys at Galfand Berger LLP today. Call us at 800-222-USWA (8792) or fill out our online form for a free consultation. Located in Philadelphia, Bethlehem, Lancaster, and Reading, we serve clients throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including Allentown and Harrisburg.