Our Comprehensive Guide: Bus Safety For Kids

Putting your child on a bus for the first time is a big step! Of course, buses are actually the safest mode of transportation to get your child to school, but it’s still difficult to let go and allow your child to do something that requires a lot of independence and responsibility. It’s a big milestone, so fears about safety are normal! However, with a little education, you can prepare your child for a successful school year on the bus (and you can take a much-needed break from being your kid’s taxi driver!) 

We’ve shared tips on back to school safety before, but today we’re focused on bus safety! Below, we’ll share some safety facts about buses and give you a list of safety principles to teach your child. 

Here’s what you need to know:

Bus Safety For Kids: Everything You Need to Know

According to the National Safety Council, children are 70% more likely to get to school safely on a school bus than in their parent’s vehicle or other passenger vehicles (yes, even without seatbelts). This is because of a bus’s unique construction, a bus driver’s training, bus traffic regulations, and a bus’s conspicuous design, which makes them much less likely to be involved in a serious traffic accident.  

That means buses are naturally safer and the best vehicle to protect children on their way to school . . . so, then why is it important to teach your child bus safety?

Why is Bus Safety Important?

Despite how safe buses are, accidents do still happen. Plus, with any vehicle there are safety risks in the vehicle and out of the vehicle. This is why we teach kids things like parking lot safety! So, it’s important to teach your kids school bus safety, so they’re best protected while at the bus stop, while boarding the bus, while riding the bus, while exiting the bus, and while walking away from the bus. Each phase of the bus riding journey is new for children, so it’s best to educate them on basic safety rules to keep them safe.  

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Bus Safety Tips for Kids

Rule 1: Always stay 3 giant steps away from the curb. 

A bus stop is really the only time a child is drawn close to a street in their day-to-day life. Outside of that, we tell them to stay far away from the road. Because of this, some kids may not naturally know where to stand when waiting for the bus! 

Explain to your child that they should take three big steps back from the curb to find a good waiting spot. That way, they’re close enough for the bus driver to see them, but far enough away that they’ll be out of the reach of traffic. 

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Rule 2: Don’t play or run at the bus stop. 

The bus stop is, of course, a place where several children will congregate. Naturally, the kids may want to play and burn off some energy before school. Make it clear to your child that the bus stop is no place to play, since it’s so close to the road. Then, give them some phrases and strategies to deal with other kids who may pressure them to get rambunctious. 

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Rule 3: Wait for the driver to tell you when it’s safe to board. 

When your child sees the school bus, they may get a little eager and jump up to the curb or towards the doors before it’s safe. Explain to your child that they need to wait for the bus to come to a complete stop and that they should see the yellow flashing lights turn to red lights as the stop sign comes out. Still, they should wait until the bus driver opens the door and gives them permission to board.  

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Rule 4: Stay in your seat for the whole ride. 

The bus doesn’t feel the same as your family car. It’s not directly clear to your child what they’re supposed to do since there are likely no seat belts, assigned seats, or cat seats! Explain to your child they need to quickly find an open seat and sit down before the bus begins moving. Ensure they know they need to stay seated for the whole ride, even as the bus is preparing to stop. When the bus finally stops, the door opens, and the driver gives the go-ahead, that’s when it’s time to exit the bus. 

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Rule 5: Don’t stick your hands, arms, and head out the windows. 

Bus windows are often easy for kids to open on their own. Gently explain to your child the dangers of hanging their hands, arms, or head out the window while the bus is moving. Their back should remain on the back of the seat for the whole ride while they safely face forward. 

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Rule 6: When you leave the bus, remember to look both ways. 

Don’t forget there is danger when a child leaves the bus, too! Your kids probably remember the basics of traffic safety like look both ways. Ensure that your child remembers that looking both ways is still important when they cross the street, even if they’re getting off the bus, are in school zones, the bus has extended stop arms, and/or cars seem to be safely waiting. People unfortunately break traffic laws all the time and may proceed anyway! 

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Rule 7: If you have to walk in front of the bus, make sure the driver can see you. 

When exiting the bus, your child may need to walk in front of the bus. This can be dangerous, because the bus driver’s visibility is limited directly in front of the bus. Because of this, many buses now have crossing arms that force the child to walk a few feet in front of the bus before crossing. You can call the school district to see if your child’s school bus is equipped with these arms, but either way explain to your child that they should be a few feet in front of the bus and able to make eye contact with the driver as they cross. 

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Take time to teach your kids these vital bus safety rules! 

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Buses are safe, but we can’t control every driver on the road or every circumstance your child may encounter. However, you can prepare your child for the usual challenges of riding a bus to help keep them safe! Use these safety rules to prevent common accidents on the bus and at the bus stop. 

And, if at the end of the day, you’re worried your child just isn’t responsible enough yet to handle waiting for the bus, entering the bus, riding on the bus, and exiting the bus, we get it! We recommend you stand with your child at the bus stop and be there waiting when they exit the bus. You can reinforce safety rules while there and determine better when your child is truly ready to do the whole bus routine on their own! 

For more essential traffic safety tips and car seat education, head over to the Safe in the Seat blog and follow us on Instagram!