Playing It SAFE

250 Main Street | Suite 650

Lafayette, IN 47901

www.henriott.com

800.382.7875

PLAYING IT

SAFE Kids, the School Bus, and You!

Image Courtesy of FreeDitalPhotos.net

BUS STOPAWARENESS

>>> A child’s playground. A drivers nuisance.

Passing a stopped

school bus is a

MAJOR offense that

carries the same

consequences as a

DUI?

Most of the children who lose their lives in bus-related crashes are pedestrians, four to seven years old, who are hit by the bus or by motorists illegally passing a stopped school bus.

For this reason, it is necessary to know the proper laws and procedures for sharing the road safely with school buses:

The area 10 feet around a school bus is where children are in the most danger of

being hit. Stop your car far enough from the bus to allow children the necessary

space to safely enter and exit the bus.

Be alert. Eliminate your distractions. Children are unpredictable. Children walking

to or from their bus are usually very comfortable with their surroundings. This

makes them more likely to take risks, ignore hazards or fail to look both ways when

crossing the street.

Take extra precautions in school zones and neighborhood areas where children and

teenagers might be walking or riding a bicycle.

All 50 states require that traffic in both directions stop on undivided streets when

the red lights are flashing so children can safely enter or exit a school bus.

Don’t start driving until the red lights have stopped flashing – be aware that a child

may be running late and quickly dash across the street!

NEVER pass a stopped school bus. It is illegal and could have tragic consequences.

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When the bus arrives, stand at least

three giant steps (6 feet) away from the curb

Whether you’re getting on or off the

bus, always stay five giant steps (10 feet) ahead of the bus when crossing the street

Be sure the bus driver can see you and

you can see the bus driver

NEVER walk behind the bus

If you drop something while getting on

or off the bus ask the bus driver for help

PLAYING IT

SAFE

250 Main Street | Suite 650

Lafayette, IN 47901

www.henriott.com

800.382.7875

SCHOOL BUSSAFETY

>>> What to teach your child about school bus safety

Riding on a school bus is the safest way for your child to travel to and from school (Yes, it’s even safer than you taking them yourself). However, the greatest risk is not riding the school bus—but rather the threat of being struck by a bus or motorist while approaching or leaving it. Therefore, children need to be especially careful around the school bus “danger zone”: - the 10 feet in front of, behind and on each side of the school bus.

PEDESTRIANSAFETY

>>> What to teach your child about walking to and from school safely

Most young children who are hit by motor vehicles are injured near their home or on neighborhood streets in broad daylight. One third of all child pedestrian fatalities occur during the after school hours, between 3 and 7 pm.

Visit the NHTSA for more information on how to increase your child’s school bus safety

Teach your child these tips to increase their safety while walking:

Always look left-right-left before crossing the

street and never run or dart out from in-between parked cars. The driver will not be able to see you.

Be sure to keep on the lookout for cars as you

cross, they can approach very quickly!

Never run out into streets or cross in between

parked cars

Use a crosswalk if you can –otherwise be sure

to only cross the street at corners

Keep on the sidewalk –if there’s no sidewalk

then be sure to face traffic as you walk.

Teach your child these tips to increase their school bus safety:

Visit the NHTSA for more information on how to increase your child’s safety as a pedestrian.

Image Courtesy of FreeDitalPhotos.net