School Transportation Safety: Safeguarding Our Students
Ja L. Coates , MCSS Communications and Instructional Specialist
Making sure that children are safe during their journeys to and from school is a top priority for school administrators, parents, and bus drivers. While school buses are considered the safest way to transport students, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are still significant risks, especially when students are pedestrians. The most hazardous part of a school bus journey isn’t the ride itself; it’s the moments when children move between the bus and the sidewalk.
MCSS is raising awareness and offering practical safety tips to ensure students stay safe throughout their transportation experiences, whether they are walking, biking, or riding the bus. School administrators, parents, and bus drivers all play a vital role in protecting our children.
Key Points of School Transportation Safety
- Bus Safety
While school buses are designed with safety in mind, incidents can happen, especially when students are entering or exiting the bus. Teaching children the importance of remaining seated, avoiding distractions, and following the bus driver’s instructions can greatly reduce the risk of accidents. - Pedestrian Safety for Students
The most significant risks students face during transportation occur when they are pedestrians. Children must know how to properly board and leave the bus, always stay visible to the bus driver, and use designated crosswalks. Educating students about traffic awareness and safety is vital to ensuring their well-being. - Driver Awareness
Drivers must be mindful of school buses, especially during pick-up and drop-off times. Drivers need to remember to stop at least 20 feet from a school bus when the stop arm is extended and its red lights are flashing. These rules are in place to ensure no child is struck by a vehicle while crossing the road.
Best Practices and Safety Guidelines
To further enhance school transportation safety, MCSS has developed several safety flyers and infographics designed for different audiences; students, parents, and bus drivers. These resources offer practical, easy-to-remember tips and guidelines:
- Transportation Safety Tips for Students
This flyer offers essential safety tips for students, focusing on safe practices when traveling by bus, bike, or on foot. It highlights the importance of remaining alert, crossing the street cautiously, and avoiding distractions like phones or earbuds. - Transportation Safety Tips for Parents
Parents can use this flyer to discuss bus, bike, and pedestrian safety with their children. It also includes illustrations for drivers that clarify when to stop for school buses on various types of roads, helping ensure motorists understand and comply with school bus safety laws. - Transportation Safety Tips for Bus Drivers
School bus drivers carry a significant responsibility for student safety. This flyer provides bus drivers with important safety considerations to keep in mind, from conducting thorough pre-trip inspections to managing student behavior and being aware of blind spots. While these guidelines don’t replace local policies or prior training, they offer additional support to bus drivers in maintaining safety on the road.
(MCSS, 2024)
Keeping Maryland’s children safe during their daily commute to school is a shared responsibility. Parents, school personnel, bus drivers, and community members all contribute to the safe arrival of students to and from school.
Visit the MCSS School Safety Topics page to explore a comprehensive list of resources. The page is regularly updated with new tools, guidelines, and safety strategies as they become available. We can create safer transportation experiences for all students by staying informed and vigilant.
Let’s work together to protect our children, promote awareness, and make transportation safety a priority in our communities.
Resources:
MCSS. (2024).Transportation Safety Flyers to Share. October 2024 News & Resources
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (n.d.). Reducing the Illegal Passing of School Buses. NHTSA School Bus Safety. https://www.nhtsa.gov/school-bus-safety/reducing-illegal-passing-school-buses#the-problem:~:text=they%20have%20undertaken.-,The%20Problem,-The%20big%20yellow