School Bus Safety Important as First Day of School Approaches

The first day of school is almost here. Children all over New Jersey are going back into the classroom to meet old friends, make new ones and learn new things.

First, they have to get there.

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), taking the school bus is the safest mode of transportation, used by 25 million children nationwide.

However, children still need to be aware of their surroundings and stay alert in order to prevent injury.

The NSC provides the following tips for students and children ahead of the first day of school:

Getting on the Bus:

• When waiting for the bus, stay away from traffic and avoid roughhousing or other behavior that can lead to carelessness
• Do not stray onto the street, alleys or private property
• Line up away from the street or road as the bus approaches
• Wait until the bus has stopped and the door opens before approaching the bus
• Use the handrail when boarding

Behavior on the Bus:

• Don’t speak loudly or make loud noises that could distract the driver
• Stay in your seat
• Don’t put your head, arms or hands out the window
• Keep aisles clear of books and bags
• Get your belongings together before reaching your stop
• Wait for the bus to stop completely before getting up from your seat

Getting Off the Bus:

• Use the handrail when exiting
• If you have to cross in front of the bus, first walk at least 10 feet ahead until you can see the driver
• Make sure the driver can see you
• Wait for a signal from the driver before crossing
• When the driver signals, look left, right, then left again. Walk across the road and keep an eye out for sudden traffic changes
• If your vision is blocked, move to an area where you can see other drivers and they can see you
• Do not cross the center line of the road until the driver signals it is safe
• Stay away from the rear wheels of the bus at all times

The attached image was provided