Kids grow up quickly. Before you know it, they are headed to their first day of school. According to the American School Bus Council, approximately 25 million children ride one of the 480,000 school buses on the road each day. For parents whose kids use the bus to get to and from school, transportation safety is a top priority.
This includes safety when traveling on the bus, but also safety when boarding the bus as well. Some of the greatest risks children face are when they are approaching or leaving the school bus. Helpful safety tips to teach your kids include:
- Wait until the bus driver says it is safe to get on the bus.
- Sit down on the bus facing forward.
- Be respectful of the bus driver and listen for any directions.
- Before walking in front of a bus, stop at the edge and look left and right for traffic, then left again before proceeding.
Traffic surrounding a bus stop and a school can quickly become congested. Even if your child has been riding the bus for years, it is still a good idea to make sure he or she is following proper bus safety.
Seat Belts on Buses: Do or Don’t?
A poll conducted by NEA Today revealed a close split of people between those who favored seat belts on buses and those who opposed. Bus drivers share several concerns with having seat belt regulations on buses. They worry that:
- Heavy belt buckles can be used as weapons by students, injuring others.
- It is difficult to ensure all students keep their seat belts properly fastened.
- If there is an emergency bus evacuation, panicked students might become trapped by their belts.
The National Highway Transportation Administration concludes that there is insufficient reason to impose a federal mandate for seat belts on school buses. In an issued statement, the administration said:
“School bus transportation is one of the safest forms of transportation in the U.S. We require all new school buses to meet safety requirements over and above those applying to all other passenger vehicles.”
Regardless of whether the bus your child rides on has seat belts or not, practicing good bus behavior is important for the safety of your child and other children on the bus.
About the Truck Accident Attorneys
The Truck Accident Attorneys at Fried Goldberg have handled personal injury cases involving motor vehicle and truck accidents in Georgia and beyond. Although we dedicate the majority of our practice to truck accident cases, we want to make sure all people know their rights when they have been involved in a traffic accident.
If you or a loved one have been sustained injuries as a result of a bus accident, contact our attorneys for a free consultation.