An average of seven students in the United States are killed each year because of school bus accidents, but 19 children are killed each year in the process of getting on and off the bus.
The majority of children killed in these incidents are between 5 and 7 years old. Young children are at the most risk for bus accidents because they are inexperienced in dealing with traffic.
School bus rules are designed to keep students safe. Most school bus injuries and fatalities occur in what the NHTSA calls "The Danger Zone," a 10-foot wide perimeter around the school bus. Because of this, the NHTSA and most local school boards have suggestions for correct behavior when entering and exiting the school bus.
While on the bus, problems are most likely to occur if children behave in ways that distract a driver's attention from the road.
School bus rules can be divided into three categories: Rules for getting on the bus, rules for behavior while the bus is in motion and rules for exiting the bus.
Rules for getting on the bus include waiting calmly for the bus to arrive, stepping back from the road as it approaches and waiting for it to come to a complete stop before moving to the door.
Rules for behavior while riding the bus include remaining seated with arms, hands and head inside the bus at all times, keeping aisles clear of backpacks and other objects and waiting until the bus has completely stopped to stand up.
Rules for exiting the school bus include making eye contact with the driver before crossing in front of the bus, checking for traffic before crossing the street and never crossing the street behind the school bus.
Parents can make riding the bus safer by implementing a few safety precautions at home. Be sure that your child's book bag or backpack has no loose straps that could catch on doors or other objects.
Children should be aware that dropping an object and bending down---out of the driver's sight---to pick it up is a leading cause of bus injuries. Encourage your children to keep all their school items safely stowed in their backpack to prevent objects from falling.
If you are want to know more about your school's particular bus safety guidelines, talk with your school's principal or check your school's code of conduct, which often includes a section on bus safety.