School Bus Safety Tips Every Parent Should Teach Their Kid

The school bus is one of the safest ways for children to travel, but the greatest risks often arise before and after the ride. Walking to the bus stop, waiting near traffic, and boarding or exiting the bus can expose children to drivers who are distracted, speeding, or unwilling to stop.

While children cannot control the behavior of nearby motorists, they can learn habits that help keep them visible and out of harm’s way. Before the school year begins, review the following school bus safety tips with your child and practice the route together.

Getting to the Bus Stop

• Leave early enough to walk, not run. Your child should aim to arrive at least five minutes before the bus. Being in a rush can reduce their attention to safety and may even lead to them sprinting into the street as they try to catch the bus.
• Walk the route with your child before the first day. If possible, choose a path with sidewalks, traffic signals, and crossing guards. Even if the safest route adds a block or two, it is worth the extra steps.
• Face traffic when there is no sidewalk. Regardless of age, pedestrians should walk on the left side of the road, facing traffic, when a sidewalk is unavailable. This allows your child to see oncoming vehicles.
• Cross only at corners and crosswalks. Predictability promotes safety, so children should cross where drivers expect pedestrians to cross. Teach your child to look left, right, and then left again and never step out from behind an obstruction, such as a parked car or hedge.
• Have a backup plan. Make sure your child knows what to do and where to go if they miss the bus.

At the Bus Stop

• Avoid horseplay while waiting. Pushing and running near the roadway can cause children to enter traffic without meaning to.
• Do not accept rides from strangers. Children should not talk to strangers, accept rides from them, or approach their vehicles while waiting for the bus.
• Wait back from the curb. Advise your child to stand at least 10 feet, or about five giant steps, from where the bus will stop. They should remain there until the bus comes to a complete stop and the doors open.
• Line up without crowding. When the bus arrives, children should wait for the driver’s signal before approaching the door in a single-file line. Crowding near the curb creates opportunities for shoving and bumping, which can lead to trips and falls.

Getting On and Off the Bus

When boarding or exiting a school bus, children should follow these four rules:

1. Cross in front of the bus, never behind it. Walk about 10 steps ahead of the front bumper so the driver can see you before you cross.
2. Make eye contact with the driver before you cross. If you cannot see the driver’s face, the driver probably cannot see you. Making eye contact helps ensure that you are visible.
3. Look both ways anyway. Even with the red lights flashing and the stop arm extended, some motorists may illegally pass a stopped bus. Children should check for approaching vehicles every time.
4. Never pick up something you have dropped near the bus. If a phone, folder, or jacket falls near the bus, tell the driver and ask an adult to retrieve it. Bending down may put a child completely out of the driver’s sight.

What Texas Law Requires of Drivers

Under Section 545.066 of the Texas Transportation Code, a driver approaching a stopped school bus from either direction must stop while the bus is displaying its visual signals. The driver may not proceed until the bus resumes motion, the bus driver signals the motorist to proceed, or the visual signals are no longer activated.

A first offense carries a fine of $500 to $1,250. The fine increases to between $1,000 and $2,000 for a second offense committed within five years, and the offense becomes a Class A misdemeanor if the driver causes serious bodily injury.

If Your Child Is Hurt at a Bus Stop

1. Get medical care immediately, even for injuries that appear minor. Symptoms of concussions and internal injuries in children may not appear until hours later.
2. Report the incident in writing to the school or transportation department and request a copy of the incident report.
3. Photograph the scene, the vehicle, the bus stop, and any visible injuries.
4. Collect the names of witnesses, the bus driver, and responding officers, as well as the crash report number.
5. Do not give a recorded statement to another driver’s insurance company before you know the full extent of your child’s injuries.

Contact Thomas J. Henry Injury Attorneys

Accidents involving school districts and contracted bus companies follow different rules than ordinary car crashes, and the deadlines for providing notice can be much shorter. If your child was injured at a bus stop or while boarding a bus, speak with a personal injury attorney at Thomas J. Henry before giving a statement or signing anything.