Guidelines for the Safe Transportation of School Age Children in School Buses is for school and other transportation managers to assist in the development and implementation of appropriate policies and procedures. It covers child safety seats, school bus seat spacing, restraint anchorages, emergency evacuation procedures, and driver and monitor training. This piece is available on the NHTSA Web site at http://nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/buses or by writing to: NHTSA Traffic Safety Programs (NTS-15), 400 Seventh Street SW, Washington, DC 20590.

National Walk Our Children to School Day (2) is a report on the 1998 event with photos and success stories from across the country, and suggestions on how to plan an event for 1999. See the "Pedestrian Safety" section on page 10.

Operation TEACH (3) is an organizing guide for educators to incorporate buckle up messages into science, math and civics lessons. It recommends age-appropriate activities to get children involved in key traffic safety messages and to reinforce good buckle-up habits for the entire family. A copy of Operation TEACH is included in this Program Planner (September 1998, DOT HS 808 783, Item #5P0231)

Consumer Materials

Back to School Safely (1) is a colorful game and activities booklet for elementary school children covering bicycle, pedestrian, school bus and passenger safety issues. "Gus the Bus" introduces songs and poems to help children remember basic safety rules. A coloring page and crossword puzzle (a) reinforce the messages. The center section is designed to be removed and photocopied for take-home, while the outside game board (b) and game pieces (c) can be used as a classroom teaching tool. (September 1998, DOT HS 808 754, Item #6P0131)

Several of the new Child Transportation Safety Tips cover school issues and are included in this Program Planner. To order a complete set, see the "Patterns for Life" section on page 8.