School buses are the safest form of highway transportation. Parents should feel very comfortable relying on them to transport their children to school. Deaths and injuries on school buses are rare. Most school bus-related injuries occur in the loading areas when children are pedestrians. Today is a day to emphasize good safety habits for walking to, waiting for and boarding a school bus.

Motorists need to get the message that they must follow important safety rules around school buses, too. It is illegal in every state to pass a school bus stopped to load/unload passengers when the flashing red signal lights are on and the stop arm is displayed. The police in your community could step up enforcement of these laws today, or announce that they will be escorting school buses to insure compliance with this important law.

One common question parents ask is why most school buses do not have seat belts. You can use today to educate parents about the safety design of school buses (see School Buses and Safety and Steps for School Bus Safety, two camera-ready pieces that you can reproduce, in this Program Planner).

You might also work with your school transportation director, PTA and/or elementary, middle and high school principals to promote school bus safety today with school assemblies and safety games. You could also celebrate the work of your school bus drivers and safety patrols who help insure the safety of your community's children. Another safety tip to emphasize is how drawstrings, backpack straps and baggy clothes can get snagged on a school bus handrail or door. Students need to be careful these things do not catch as they leave the bus.

NHTSA has a new School Bus Driver In-Service Safety Series training program designed to help school transportation directors conduct refresher training classes on seven key topics, including highway-rail grade crossings and loading and unloading passengers. The Training Kit is available from NHTSA by faxing orders to Diane Wigle at 202-366-7721.

You can reproduce the following Child Transportation Safety Tips to distribute to your constituents:

Tip #12 – School Bus Stops: A Risky Part of the Ride

Tip #13 – Handrails & Drawstrings: Clothing Causes School Bus Hazard