‘Eight Giant Steps’: Keeping Out of School Bus Blind Spots

Oct. 15-21 is National School Bus Safety Week

October 15-21 is National School Bus Safety Week, and Safe Kids Columbus reminds parents and caregivers that more than 25 children each year die in pedestrian accidents involving school buses. In fact, three times as many children are killed in school bus accidents while getting on or off the bus than while riding it. The theme of this year’s observance is “Be Aware — Cross with Care.”

“Teach your children about the 10-foot danger zone around the school bus, where the driver can’t see children on the ground,” says Pamela Fair, Safe Kids Columbus coordinator. “Young children should take eight giant steps away from the bus to be sure the bus driver can see them. Older kids who must cross the street should look to the bus driver for an ‘OK’ sign before crossing, and always cross in front of the bus.”

Kids should stand on the grass or sidewalk while waiting for the bus and not enter the street until the driver has opened the door of the bus. “Kids tend to run toward the bus. Don’t let them,” says Fair.

Safe Kids Columbus also offers children these reminders from the School Bus Information Council:

• The bus driver and others cannot see you if you are standing within 10 feet of the bus. Stay out of the danger zone!
• If something falls under or near the bus, tell the driver. Never try to pick it up yourself!
• When you get on or off the bus, look for the bus safety lights and make sure they are flashing.
• Be alert to traffic. When you get on or off the bus, look left, right, left before you enter or cross the street.

In Georgia, it is against the law for drivers to pass a school bus when its lights are flashing.

National School Bus Safety Week is held every year in the third week of October and led by the National Association for Pupil Transportation, the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services, the National School Transportation Association and the Pupil Transportation Safety Institute.
For details, visit www.napt.org.

“School buses are, by far, the safest way for kids of all ages to get to and from school,” says Pamela Fair. “School buses are designed with safety features no other vehicles have. The padded, high-backed seats on school buses are close together to create protective compartments, like egg cartons.” According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the rate of crash-related fatalities on school buses is 0.2 per million miles traveled, compared to 1.5 for cars.

 

 

Phone: (706) 321-6183 | Fax: (706) 321 6326 | Email: info@safekidscolumbus.com