Bus & Pedestrian Safety Every year GLEAMNS Head Start is required to provide to our parents bus and pedestrian safety training during the first 30 days of school. Your children will be given the same information but it will be presented so that the children will understand. GLEAMNS HEAD START

Pedestrian Safety Twenty-five million children in the United States ride safely to and from school on 440,000 school buses over 4.3 billion miles each year. An average of 33 school-age children die in school-bus-related traffic crashes each year. Most of the children killed are pedestrians, 5 to 7 years old.

Children are hit within the school bus danger zone and are struck by their own school bus or by passing vehicles in violation of the school bus warning systems.

Young children are most likely to be hit because they… Hurry to get on or off the bus Act before they think and have little experience with traffic Assume motorists will see them and will wait for them to cross Don’t always stay within the bus driver’s sight.

Boarding & Exiting the Bus Always have an adult accompany your child to the bus stop. Stay off the road at all times waiting for the bus. Be careful in approaching the place where the bus stops. Do not move toward the bus until the bus has come to a complete stop. Teach your child to be alert to a danger signal from the driver or monitor.

Safe Riding Practices Children should be seated as soon as possible. Children will be buckled in the seat with an age appropriate harnessing device. Children may talk quietly. Feet, legs and book bags should be kept out of the aisle. Children should remain in their seat until the bus reaches it’s destination. Absolutely no food or drink should be consumed on the bus. This creates a potential choking hazard.

Crossing the Street at Stops Look both ways before you cross the street Use your eyes, use your ears and then use your feet. Hold your child’s hand while crossing the street. Children can easily get away from you. Model street crossing behavior to your child. They learn by watching you.

School Bus Danger Zones The Danger Zone is the area on all sides of the bus where children are in most danger of being hit. Children should stay 10 feet away from the bus and never go behind it. They should take 5 giant stops in front of the bus before crossing, so they can be seen by the driver

Evacuations & Drills Conducted monthly Bus Emergencies Evacuations & Drills Conducted monthly

Rear Door Evacuation Children are instructed how to exit the bus in case of an emergency. The Driver stays on the bus directing children when to exit their seat while the monitor exits the bus through the rear door and helps the children down. Once everyone is off the bus children are all accounted for.

Side Door Evacuation The children exit the bus from the rear to the front. The Monitor guides the children out to the driver who is waiting outside the door to receive the children.

Questions? Contact your caseworker or center coordinator if you have any concerns about bus safety issues