ABOUT SCHOOL BUS SAFETY

Did you know?

• Twice a day school buses in Alberta are responsible for the safe transportation of young Albertans.
• School buses in Alberta travel hundreds of thousands of kilometres every day.
• Transport Canada says travel by school bus in Alberta is one of the safest means of transporting our children to and from school.
• School buses are driven by conscientious, dedicated drivers.
• The greatest time of danger to students and for others on the roadways is during the loading and unloading of a school bus.
• Most school bus collisions involve a bus being struck by another vehicle from behind or children being struck while exiting or approaching a school bus.

Motorists

• Motorists should always watch for children crossing the road and be prepared to slow down or stop.
• The speed limit in most school zones and playgrounds is 30 kilometres per hour. Pay attention to posted speed limits.
• Alternately flashing amber lights means a bus is slowing down to stop. Do the same.
• No matter which direction you are coming from, STOP whenever approaching a stopped bus with activated alternately flashing red lights - unless the bus is on the opposite side of a divided highway.
• Driver courtesy goes a long way. By simply being alert and cautious when approaching a school bus, motorists are contributing to school bus safety.

Kids and Parents

Listen to the school bus drivers - they're in charge. On the bus, keep the noise down, especially at railroad crossings and intersections. Stay seated, face forward and don't throw things inside the bus or out bus windows. Stay out of the danger zone until the bus driver lets passengers know it's safe to get on. Children are too close if they can touch the bus. Wait until the bus stops before standing. Move away after leaving the bus. Develop a plan as a family in case the kids miss the bus. And never take rides from strangers.

Bus drivers

School bus drivers are responsible for the vehicle, the passengers and other road users. Be aware of driver responsibilities. Know the laws related to railway crossings and become familiar with local school board policy and municipal bylaws. In general, school buses are required by law to stop at a railway crossing. Unless the crossing has a traffic control signal (lights), a peace officer or a flagman that signals traffic to proceed.

Following another vehicle too close can be dangerous. School bus drivers should look well down the intended path of travel at least 12 to 15 seconds or 1 to 1 1/2 blocks ahead.

The maximum speed limit for a school bus is different than other vehicles on the highway. School buses, with or without passengers, must not exceed 90 km/h or the posted speed limit, whichever is lower.

Prior to starting out on any trip, school bus drivers must always conduct a daily pre-trip walk-around inspection. At the end of every shift the driver must complete a post-trip inspection.

Operation, maintenance and inspection

School bus safety is taken very seriously in Alberta.

Alberta school buses must undergo a "bumper-to-bumper" safety inspection every six months. This semi-annual inspection has been required in Alberta since 1982. School bus inspection procedures and performance standards review everything from the bus exterior, body, doors and seat conditions, to fuel systems, brakes, fire extinguishers and contents for first aid kits.

A driver of a school bus must inform the carrier responsible for the vehicle if any defect or deficiency that would affect the safe operation of the vehicle is detected. The driver must also check to ensure appropriate repairs were made.

Alberta Transportation's transport officers, and enforcement agencies, carry out random roadside inspections to ensure regular school bus safety inspections and maintenance plans are effective.

In addition to federal and provincial safety equipment standards, the province and school boards work jointly on specific school bus driver licensing, qualifications and training to keep children safe.

SCHOOL BUS SAFETY RESOURCES

School bus safety is not about practising safe habits for just the week you children return to school. It's about making sure everyone knows what to do throughout the entire school year around school busses. Whether its road rules, behaviour on the bus, safety mechanical awareness, proper loading of the bus or how to dress for the weather - it's all important.

The following resource materials have been developed by the Alberta Office of Traffic Safety and key stakeholders to ensure everyone knows and practices the ABC's of school bus safety:

Motorists
Saferoad Reminders

Kids and Parents
School Bus Safety Rules Brochure
School Bus Safety Bookmark
Pooh's Great School Bus Adventure video
Traffic Safety Resource Guide for Elementary Schools
Point, Pause and Proceed video
Bus Safety Rules 
Flashing Red Means Stop - Poster

School bus drivers
School Bus Driver's Guide
School Bus Driver's Checklist

SCHOOL BUS SAFETY FOR EVERYONE

School Bus Safety Tips

Travel by school bus is one of the safest modes of transportation. Some people are concerned about the lack of seat belts, but the interior of school buses are designed to protect the occupants in a collision without seat belts. Adding seat belts may not improve the safety of these vehicles.

Despite the safety precautions taken in the design of the bus, injuries from school bus incidents do occur. Some injuries are the result of school bus collisions, but children are also injured as pedestrians. This occurs when they are struck by a school bus or other vehicle while crossing the road to get on to the bus, or after getting off of the school bus.

Students can reduce the risk of school bus injury by following some safety guidelines. As well, drivers of other vehicles must know how to drive safely near school buses.

School Bus Safety for Kids

While waiting for the bus, stand in a group with the other students. You should stand at least two giant steps away from the road and pay attention to traffic.

When the school bus approaches the bus stop, line up with the smaller children at the front. Stay away from the bus until it stops.

After the bus has stopped, get on the bus one at a time. Hold on to the handrail while climbing the steps, then go directly to your seat.

While riding the bus, follow these safety rules:

• Remain seated and face the front of the bus.
• Talk quietly.
• Keep the aisle clear.
• Keep your arms and head inside the bus.
• Do not throw things around the bus or out the window.
• Do not drink or eat.
• Wait until the bus stops before standing.

Walk away from the bus so the driver can see you. Once you are off the bus, stay away from it. If you drop something, get the driver's attention immediately, before going to get it.

School Bus Safety for Other Drivers

Children are often injured as pedestrians as they cross the road to get on, or after getting off, the bus. Drivers need to be alert and adhere to traffic laws when approaching a school bus.

Whenever you approach a bus that has activated the alternately flashing red lights, the Alberta Traffic Safety Act requires that you stop before reaching the bus. This rule applies no matter which direction you are travelling. You may proceed when the lights stop flashing. The only exception to this rule is when the bus is on the opposite side of a two-lane divided highway.

A bus that has activated the alternately flashing amber lights is slowing down to stop. Slow down and be prepared to stop.

Some municipalities have passed bylaws not requiring school buses to activate the alternately flashing red lights when they stop. In this case, you do not need to stop, but you should still be cautious and watch for pedestrians when the buses are loading or unloading students.

Regardless of where you live or drive:

• Always stop for buses that have activated the alternately flashing red lights.
• Be prepared to stop for buses that have activated the alternately flashing amber lights.
• Be cautious of school buses loading or unloading students, even if the lights are not flashing.
• Always be alert for children and adhere to posted speed limits.

CHECKLIST

Kids - always listen to school bus drivers - they're in charge. If you forget any of the school bus safety rules they can tell you what it takes to be a safe bus rider.

1. Stand in a group while waiting for the bus. Don't run around.
2. Stay out of the danger zone until the bus driver lets you know it's safe to get on. If you can touch the bus, you're too close.
3. Once the bus arrives, line up with the smaller children at the front. Get on the bus one at a time.
4. Use the handrail when getting on or off the bus.
5. Take your seat right away and stay seated until you leave the bus.
6. Face forward and don't throw things inside the bus or out the bus window.
7. Talk quietly and keep your head and arms inside the bus.
8. Wait until the bus stops before standing. Move away after leaving the bus.
9. Always cross roads safely. Look four ways before crossing - left, right, ahead and behind. And remember to "Point, Pause and Proceed".

SAFETY VIDEOS

Pooh's Great Bus Adventure
This is an excellent video for conveying school bus safety rules and is applicable for both rural and urban students.