CPS Transportation, Student Safety Tips

Student Safety Tips

Most serious school bus incidents occur when children are outside the bus and 75% of these incidents involve children under the age of nine.

10 Simple Rules

Please help us keep your children safe by working with them to learn these 10 simple safety rules:

Be early for the bus.
Never run to or from the bus.
Be alert and stand back from the curb.
Don't push or shove.
Stay in your seat.
Don't yell or shout.
Always obey the driver.
Wait for the driver's signal before crossing.
Always cross at least 12 feet in front of the bus.
Never crawl under a school bus.

Remove Drawstrings

Clothing that appeals to your children may not always be safe. Drawstrings can catch in playground equipment, fences, school bus doors and escalators. Remove, shorten or replace drawstrings on shirts, jackets or backpacks with another kind of fastener that does not have a knot or end.

Meet the Bus

Adults should always accompany to and meet their children at bus stops. This is required for kindergarten students.

Avoid Using Gadgets Near Buses

Headphones, cell phones and MP3 players are all examples of gadgets that can distract children from knowing when a bus is approaching. Urge your children to wait to use gadgets until they are a safe distance away from the bus.

Students should always walk at least 12 feet in front of the bus when crossing the street.

Stay Out of the Bus Danger Zone

Parents/guardians should help their children learn about the location of bus "danger zones." Children need constant reminding to stay away from the wheels of the bus, front and rear. They should always cross the street at least 6 giant steps (12 feet) in front of the bus and only after receiving the signal from the driver to cross. Making eye contact with the driver is critical to safe street crossing.

School buses will park bumper-to-bumper in a loading zone to prevent students or parents from walking between them. Please teach your child to stay at least 12 feet away from a parked school bus.

Cross the Street Safely

Here are some quick tops on how to cross the street safely:

STAY on your side of the road — far away from the traffic.
WAIT for the bus to stop and for your driver's signal to cross.
CHECK traffic both ways — then check again.
CROSS walk directly across, checking traffic both ways.
WALK approximately 12 feet ahead of the bumper and board the bus quickly.

Boarding the Bus

Drivers should stop, but they may not, so teach your kids to:

WAIT a safe distance from traffic.
STAY on your side of the road until your driver signals you to cross.
CHECK and re-check for traffic.
FOLLOW the 12-foot rule.
BOARD the bus quickly — go directly to your seat.

Exiting the Bus

After getting off, the bus, here are some tips to cross the street safely:

WALK along the side of the road until you can see your driver.
STOP and wait for the signal to cross from driver.
LOOK for traffic both ways. If you see a vehicle that has not stopped, go back to the bus immediately.
CROSS the road quickly after all vehicles have stopped.