Insurance

Watch out for School Buses

With its highly visible and distinctive yellow and black coloring and its flashing red stop sign, the school bus has become on of the safest modes of transportation on the road today.

However, with more than 800,000 children relying on school bus services each day, mishaps still occur when school bus safety guidelines are either overlooked or unknown.

By following a few simple safety guidelines parents, motorists and students can ensure the well being of everyone on the road.

Rules for boarding and exiting the bus safely:

• Be at the bus stop on time. Avoid running to or from the bus
• Wait for the bus in a safe place that is good distance from the side of the road
• Be aware of the danger zone, which is close enough to the bus to touch it. The bus driver cannot see individuals if they are in this zone.
• When crossing the street, wait until the bus and traffic has come to a complete stop. The bus driver will make sure that traffic stops and its safe to board the bus.
• Use the hand rail when boarding or exiting the bus

Rules for Safe School Bus Riding:

• Sit facing forwards at all times
• Bags and parcels should be placed on your lap
• Keep feet out of the aisle to avoid tripping people as they enter and exit the bus
• Keep your head and arms inside the bus. Never throw anything out of the windows.
• No fighting, shouting, playing or throwing things around the bus
• Always follow the bus driver's instructions

These are guidelines that parents should share with their children, regardless if they are frequent users of school bus services or not. Parents are responsible for their children until they step on the bus and immediately after they exit bus.

Motorists also play a pivotal role in school bus safety and are required by law to obey all traffic laws regarding schools buses. For example, the School Bus Stopping Law requires vehicles in both directions to stop when a school bus has stopped with its lights flashing and the stop arm extended. Failing to stop for a school bus can result in up to 6 demerit points and some hefty fines, so make sure you come to a complete stop when you see those familiar flashing red lights.

In addition to bus safety guidelines and laws, there are safety patrol programs that have been created to further educate and involve individuals on the importance of bus safety.

One such program is the CAA School Safety Patrol Program, which has more than 23,000 school safety patrollers who ensure the safe arrival and departure of their classmates at schools across South Central Ontario. By personally being involved, children not only get a better understanding of bus safety, but also ensure the ongoing safety of fellow bus passengers.

Learn about CAA's School Safety Patrol Program

Facts and information in this article are based on info from the School Bus Safety Resource guide found on the Ministry of Transportation Website.