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Safety on the School Bus and Public Transport

1 September 2024

Many children take the bus to school (and to clubs, trips and other educational frameworks as well). These transportation safety guidelines can save lives. Some children are very excited about traveling with friends but you have to explain to them the precautions that will keep them safe.

Safety rules can save lives and it is important to make sure that children adhere to them while waiting for the bus, for example at the bus stop, during the trip and when crossing the street.

Every morning, on their way to school and in the end of the school day (and on the way to clubs, camps, trips and similar programs), thousands of children use school buses and public transportation, and need to adhere to safety rules.

The roles of parents and other adults is to explain to children the dangers in traveling on a vehicle or public transportation, and to teach them to behave with caution. In any case, and as incidents have occurred in the past, the recommendation is to make sure that the child arrives at the destination safe and sound, and that children are not forgotten in the vehicle or bus.

Safety rules can save lives and it is important to make sure that children adhere to them while waiting for the bus, at the bus stop, when getting into or out of a vehicle or bus, during trips and when crossing the street.

  • Explain to the children that they must sit and wait at the meeting point or bus stop, after the curb, as far away from the vehicles as possible.
  • Instruct them to behave themselves, to not run, climb or play at the bus stop to avoid accidentally falling in the street.
  • Stress to the children that playing with a ball near vehicles is extremely dangerous, that if the ball rolls into the street and they run after it, they may be run over.
  • Also explain that if an object falls out of their bag or hand near or under a vehicle or bus, they must not pick it up. They should inform the driver or supervising adult who accompanies the children during the trip and wait for them to handle the matter.

Tell children that when the shuttle or the bus arrives at the stop, we do not run towards it: wait until the vehicle or bus comes to a complete stop and the front door opens and only then go through the front door in an orderly manner and do not push each other.

  • Explain to the children that during every trip in a vehicle, they must put on seat belts.
  • Teach children to not stand or roam around because they can lose their balance during the trip, fall and injure themselves.
  • Emphasize that they must not stick their head or hands out the window as they might be injured by a passing vehicle.
  • Yelling, unruly behavior and inappropriate behavior are also unacceptable as they may distract the driver and endanger the travelers.

A supervising adult, beside the driver, should accompany the children during every trip.

  • Explain to children that once the trip ends and the vehicle or bus arrives at the school and only after it comes to a complete stop can they carefully get off the bus through the front door.
  • Explain to children that even at this stage, they must not push or run out so that they do not fall and injure themselves.
  • Instruct children that when they get out of the vehicle or off the bus, they must move away from it as much as possible, and wait on the sidewalk until it drives away.
  • If children need to cross the street, explain that they must wait until the vehicle or bus drives away from the stop, and only then can they safely cross. Tell them to not cross the street in front of or behind a vehicle or bus.

Note: children under the age of 9 must be accompanied by an adult when crossing the street.

Talk to children about their experiences on the bus. Be attentive to what they say and the tone in which they speak about their experience. If they mention unpleasant experiences - for example, if they say that children are bullying them, or if they complain about the bus driver - take the complaints seriously. Speak with all parties responsible for transportation.

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