No, it's not the first day of school yet. It's the "Bus Safety Orientation" for kindergarten. Anna sat in front with the other children, while Daddy sat in back with the other adults.
School buses have seat belts now! But their use is not required? One of the concerns is that it would be very difficult for the bus driver to ensure that all the students keep their seat belts fastened properly. The bus only has manually adjustable lap belts which can cause injury in an accident.
We also heard about "compartmentalization". The claustrophobia inducing seats of a school bus are designed to provide passive restraint (i.e., without seat belts). Plus, a school bus is not a car. It's big. It has a lot of mass, so it responds much differently from a car in an accident.
Yes, I am trying to talk myself into believing that my little girl will be safe when she takes the bus to kindergarten.
2 comments:
And here I am worrying about Anna driving a car a decade from now...
Love her outfit!
School Bus Safety
Tips for Motorists:
Slow down.
Be especially careful when driving on neighborhood streets and around school zones, always expect the unexpected.
Be alert for youngsters walking to and from school as you back out of your driveway or leave your parking garage.
Watch for children on bicycles, especially at intersections and driveways. Young bicyclists have a tendency to dart out of driveways without looking for traffic.
Stop your car when you see lights flashing on a school bus. Red flashing lights indicate that the bus is stopped and students are getting on or off. Don't start driving until the red lights stop flashing. Be aware that a child may dash across the street.
Tips for Parents:
Remind children to look to the right before they step off the bus. Drivers in a hurry sometimes try to sneak by buses on the right.
Help your children get ready for school:
Have your children put everything they carry in a backpack or school bag so that they won't drop things along the way.
Have them wear bright, contrasting colors so that they will be more easily seen by drivers. Attach a piece of high visibility fluorescent and reflective material to their clothing or backpack.
Make sure they leave home on time so that they can walk to the bus stop and arrive before the bus is due. Running can be dangerous.
Teach your children to secure loose drawstrings and other objects that may get caught in the handrail or door of the school bus as they are exiting.
Warn children that if they drop something near the bus they should never ever pick it up. Instead, they should tell the bus driver and follow the driver's directions. If they bend over to pick up a dropped object, they might not be seen by the driver and could be hurt if the bus pulls away from the stop.
Go to the bus stop with a young child.
Don't let pre-school children or pets go with your school child. They can be dangerous near traffic.
If you decide to meet your child at the bus stop after school, wait on the side where the child will be dropped off, not across the street. Children can get so excited at seeing you after school they might forget safety rules and dash across the street.
Tips for Children:
Children should:
Talk quietly
Be courteous
Follow the driver's directions
Keep the aisles clear
Stay seated for the whole bus ride.
It takes a team effort involving parents, school children, the bus driver and crossing guards to get your child safely to school each day.
Connecticut Department of Transportation
Post a Comment