To be certain children have a safe trip to school each
day, try these safety tips from the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration:

• Make sure children get to the stop on time, wait far away
  from the road and avoid rough
  play.
• Teach your child to ask the driver for help if he drops
  something near the bus. If a
  child stoops to pick up something, the driver can’t see him.
  Then he could be hit by the
  bus. A book bag or backpack helps keep loose items
  together.
• Make sure clothing has no loose drawstrings and backpack
  straps are short, so they don’t
  get caught in the handrail or bus door.
• If you think a bus stop is in a dangerous place, talk with
  your school office or
  transportation director about changing the location.

Help Children Get
On, Off Bus Safely

Teach your child to get on and off the bus safely:

1. When getting on, stay away from the danger zone near the
   bus and wait
   for the driver’s signal. Board
   the bus single file.
2. When getting off, look before stepping off the bus to be
   sure no cars are passing on the
   shoulder. Move away from the bus.
3. Before crossing the street, take five “giant
   steps” out from the front of the
   bus, or until the child can see the driver’s face. Wait for
   the
   driver to signal that it’s safe
   to cross.
4. Look left_right_left when coming to the edge of the bus to
   make sure traffic is stopped.
   Continue to watch for traffic when crossing.

Following School
Bus? Obey Laws,
Protect Children

Other motorists pose the greatest threat to children
traveling to school. Most children are injured at bus stops by
cars illegally passing the bus.

Drivers coming to a school bus from either direction
must
stop when the bus displays flashing red warning lights and
extends the stop-signal arm. These signals show that children
are
getting on or off the school bus.

Don’t pass until the flashing red lights and signals are
turned off.

Drivers traveling in the same direction as the bus are
always required to stop. In some states, drivers moving in the
opposite direction on a divided roadway are also required to
stop, but not in Georgia.

Never pass on the right side of the bus, where children
enter or exit. This is illegal and can have tragic results.

For more information, call the NHTSA Auto Safety Hotline
(1-888-DASH-2-DOT) or visit the NHTSA Web site www.nhtsa.dot.gov>