Bus stop safety

An average of 33 school-age children die in school bus-related crashes each year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Most of the casualties are pedestrians hit at the bus stop by a passing car or the bus itself.

Bill Barnett of the Pupil Transportation division of the Georgia state department of Public Safety offers these tips to protect children from bus stop accidents:* children should arrive at the bus stop five minutes before the bus arrives, so they don’t run for the bus
* children should wait for the bus off the road
* children should start for the bus after it stops completely and the red light turns on
* children should use the hand rail to enter the bus and take one step at a time
* children should cross in front of a bus, far enough out so the driver can see them
* if children have to cross the street to get the bus, wait for the bus driver to signal to cross the road