Danger Rangers on School Bus Safety

Children Should Be Taught Bus Safety

by Michael D. Moore

The objective of the Danger Rangers is to 'steer' you in the direction of preventing accidents from occurring. There are several important precautions that parents should be aware of when it comes to bus safety.

Parents should always make sure that someone is supervising children at the bus stop to make certain that clear ground rules are in place and are being followed, particularly rules that prohibit horseplay in and around the street.

Teach children to ask the bus driver for help in picking up anything they may have dropped around the bus. Children retrieving dropped articles are often hit because they are not seen by the bus driver or by oncoming traffic.

Children should be asked to take five large steps away from the bus when they exit. Then, they should make sure that the bus driver can see them directly in the eyes and that the driver signal it is OK to cross the street before they do so. It is still very important that children also look both ways as they cross the street.

Inform children that they must never accept a ride from any person unless their parents tell them directly that it is OK. Teach kids that adults should ask other adults for help, not kids. If an adult asks a kid for help, the child should get another adult.

If for any reason a child feels uncomfortable or unsafe at the bus stop, they need to bring it to a parent or caregiver's attention.

Remember, planning ahead is always the best precaution. Follow these rules and your family will be Danger Ranger ready!