Parents and children alike need to be aware of the "danger zone" around a bus, which is any area close enough to the bus that you can touch. When you are in this area, the bus driver can't see, you and this is what makes it dangerous. Have a discussion about this with your children and ask the bus driver to reiterate this information on a regular basis to the riders.
If you have questions about the safety of the actual vehicle, ask the bus superintendent when the bus was last overhauled, and how often maintenance occurs on the vehicle. You are free to ask questions about the bus driver's record, his credentials, his work history and experience, and how often his vision and driving skills are tested.
All motorists must be aware that passing a stopped school bus is a serious violation and can result in fines, penalties and even conviction. Most importantly, passing a stopped school bus puts children in peril. A program called Operation Safe Stop is aimed at reducing the occurrences of children being hit by vehicles whose drivers ignored the law. Between 2002 and 2004, 69 students were injured and one was killed by a motorist when a vehicle passed a stop school bus. Ask if the school is involved in this program. Inform your children that they should never cross the road or street until they are given the signal by the bus driver that it is safe to cross. Children must also take personal responsibility to be on the look out for oncoming traffic. Tell them not to rely solely on instruction from the bus driver. The must keep their eyes peeled as well.
School buses are not all equipped with seat belts. Some feel they should be, whereas others maintain that it's not necessary and the cost of doing such is prohibitive. Ask the school bus superintendent if there are seat belts in the buses and why or why not. Legally, buses are not required to come equipped with seat belts. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, buses are equipped with thick, padded, closely spaced seats with high backs that provide ample protection for the riders.