Neighbor News
Keeping Safe When Commuting By Bus
There are plenty of smaller steps we can take to make ourselves safer while commuting by bus.

City and county busses offer great advantages to those who many not have a mode of transportation. For many larger cities and areas with dense populations, city busses can offer a great way for locals and tourists alike to travel from one location to another. Additionally, the cost of using this method of transportation generally is of low cost to the user. Public transportation methods are a reliable source for many thousand individuals who are traveling to work, school, or simply getting around town.
Get To Know Your Driver
For parents who have children in grade school, a bus driver can have a large impact on their children's safety. Considering that your children's well-being is in the hands of a daily bus driver, it's a good idea to make an effort to get to know them. If the time permits, consider engaging in conversations with your child's driver, and learn more about them. Consider asking them how long they have been driving busses for, how long they have been working within the school system, and questions about their outside life. By learning more about their driving experience and knowledge of operating larger-scale busses, you can gain insight into the types of skills and their ability levels when operating a bus with a large amount of children aboard. Personal relationships can give you a better feeling and sense of safety after sending your children off to the bus each and every day.
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Consider where you are sitting
If you are commuting within a city bus, consider where you chose to sit. Though it may seem unlikely, in the event of a bus accident it's important to consider where the most impact could take place. Sitting in the rear sections of a bus as well as front areas can be known to carry higher risk. In the event a car rear-ends a bus, or the bus driver mistakenly runs into another car in front of their bus, the impacts can be felt from either end. When traveling by bus, consider sitting in the middle sections if seating is available within this area. Additionally, sitting in aisle seats can add further protection from the outside of a bus. Its often an area that many travelers do not consider, but sitting in the best possible location on a bus can help to keep yourself safe in the event that something goes wrong.
Find out what's happening in Nashvillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Take action and become involved
Have you noticed changes within your public transportation systems in your city or town? Are there things that can be improved to keep citizens safer and less susceptible to injury while using public transportation? Perhaps you have heard of recent releases where bus safety has been a concern and may have resulted in increased risk of injury or threat. Consider becoming more involved, and letting your elected officials know of your concerns. Consider suggesting improvements that can be implemented to lead to a safer environment. Take part as an involved citizen and ensure your voice is heard. Without a voice in government, your viewpoints and positions on local issues could be overlooked.