September, 2001

Help your kids brush up on school bus safety

Parents and caregivers do a lot to prepare their children for the new school year, including paying school fees, getting school supplies and buying new clothes. But what about preparing them for the school bus ride to and from school?

With the academic year just beginning and more than 80,000 children riding school buses every day in Saskatchewan, school bus safety is a priority this time of the year.

"Bus drivers have to focus their attention on driving, so they're not always able to keep their eyes on the children. We want to encourage parents to teach their children how to be safe both on and off the school bus," says Shannon Ell, SGI's Supervisor of Traffic Safety Promotion.

She suggests parents contribute to their children's safety by teaching them a few simple tips that they can use every day and will easily remember.

Ell recommends parents teach their children the following to ensure a safe ride:

• Always stand three metres (two arms' lengths) away from the curb when waiting for the bus to pick you up. If you stand too close to the road, drivers may not be able to see until it's too late. You could be hit by a vehicle.

• Approach the bus only when it has come to a complete stop and the driver has opened the door. If you try to get on or off the bus too quickly, you could injure yourself.

• Be a considerate passenger. Find a seat as soon as you get on the bus and stay in that seat for the entire ride.

• It's okay to talk, but keep voices down and pay attention to the bus driver.

• Buses have large blind spots behind, in front of and beside the bus. When getting off the bus, move quickly and safely through these areas, making sure the bus driver can see you.

• Be careful with clothing that has drawstrings. The strings may get caught in the handrail on the door. Tuck the strings into the clothing or cut them off completely.

Ell says everyone can contribute to their children's safety by following traffic rules in and around school bus loading zones. However, drivers are advised to avoid school bus loading zones altogether.

"Traffic congestion in school bus loading zones can lead to accidents, so it's safer to avoid driving and parking in those areas," says Ell. "And if you must drive in those areas, obey all signs and signals, and watch for children who may not know the rules for crossing the street. The best way you can teach your children about safety is by setting a positive example for them."

For more information, contact:
Shannon Ell
Supervisor, Traffic Safety Promotion
SGI Communications
Regina
Phone: (306) 775-6179

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