Back to School: School Bus Safety Tips

During the school year, mornings include kids waiting at bus stops and school buses on the roads — sometimes stopping every few blocks. It’s important to teach young students about staying safe around and on the bus, but it’s just as important for drivers to use caution near children and school buses. Whether you’re walking your kids to the bus stop or driving to work, keep these school bus safety tips in mind.

School Bus Safety for Students

While it can be hectic getting everyone up and ready in the morning, the American School Bus Council says children who are rushing to the bus may be at higher risk for an accident. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that students get to the bus stop at least 5 minutes ahead of their scheduled pick-up time. If you have younger children, Safe Kids Worldwide recommends that an adult walks them to the bus stop and waits with them.

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Once you’ve arrived at the bus stop, the NHTSA recommends the following school bus safety tips:

• At the bus stop:
  • Wait at least 6 feet away from the curb. (Tell young children to stay at least three giant steps away from the edge of the street.)
  • Teach kids that they should not run around and play while waiting.
• Getting on and off the bus:
  • Wait for the bus to stop completely and for the door to open. Do not approach the bus to get on, or stand up to get off, until the driver says it’s OK.
  • Use handrails when getting on or off the bus.
  • Always face forward when seated.
  • Use seat belts if they are available, says the National Safety Council.
• Near the bus:
  • Never cross the street behind a school bus.
  • When crossing in front of the bus, make sure you are at least 10 feet in front of the bus so the driver can see you.
  • If anyone drops something near the bus, tell the driver. Do not lean down to pick it up, as the bus driver may not be able to see you.

Safety Tips for Drivers

If you commute to work, give yourself a few extra minutes to drive to the office to safely accommodate your neighborhood school buses. The NHTSA provides these safety tips for driving through a neighborhood where school buses and kids are present:

• As you pull out of your garage or driveway, watch out for children who may be on their way to a bus stop or school.
• Look out for children walking in or near the street and for kids gathering near bus stops. Stay alert, as kids may run into the street to catch a school bus if they’re running late.
• If you see flashing yellow lights on a bus, slow down as this means the bus is about to stop.
• If you see flashing red lights and a stop sign extended, come to a complete stop. This indicates that children are getting on or off the school bus. Do not drive again until the lights have stopped flashing and the bus is moving again.
• Know and obey your state’s specific school bus laws.
• Slow down and use extra caution when driving through school zones, says Safe Kids Worldwide.

It’s important to help get kids safely to and from school each day. Make sure your children know basic school bus safety — both on and around the bus. And if you’re driving, remember to slow down near kids and stop when a bus is letting kids on or off at each stop.

Originally published on August 21, 2013.

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Getting Your Car Ready for the School Year

Back-to-school season can be a very busy time for students and parents alike. One item you may want to put on the to-do list is car maintenance. Whether you’re driving the kids back and forth to school or your college student is taking a car to campus, follow these tips to help get your car ready to go back to school.

Check Under the Hood

Keeping up with basic maintenance may help prevent potentially costly repairs down the road. Before school starts, either you or a mechanic should pop the hood to ensure fluids are at the correct levels. Popular Mechanics recommends checking fluid levels for the:

• Motor oil
• Coolant
• Transmission fluid
• Power steering fluid
• Brake fluid

Top off fluids that are low and, if necessary, have any leaks fixed.

While you’re under the hood, it’s also a good time to check your car’s battery. Make sure the connections are tight, and clean any corrosion off the terminals with a battery brush, says Consumer Reports. If the battery is more than two years old, you may also want to have it tested to see how much charge is left. You can often have this done at an auto parts store or have your mechanic test it.

Check the Tires

Tires that are not inflated properly can negatively affect the car’s handling as well as the gas mileage, according to Cars.com. Before you start carting kids to and from school and activities again, check the tire pressure and look for uneven tread wear, nails or other potential hazards. Use a tire gauge to check the pressure on each tire, including the spare tire. If needed, inflate the tires to the vehicle manufacturer’s suggested pressure. This information is typically listed on a sticker inside the driver’s door and inside the owner’s manual, says Cars.com. You may also want to have your tires rotated to help prevent uneven wear.

Check the Lights

Your vehicle’s lights help you to see the road ahead and alert other drivers to your next move. So, it’s a good idea to do a visual inspection of your car’s lighting system, says the Humble Mechanic — even on newer cars, because the monitoring system doesn’t always include every light on the vehicle.

You can often tell if a turn signal light is out, because the indicator on the dashboard will typically flash quicker than usual if a bulb needs to be replaced, says the Humble Mechanic. To complete a full inspection, have someone walk around the car while you turn on the various lights, including headlights, fog lights, turn signals and emergency hazard lights. Since some vehicles use the same bulbs for multiple functions, the Humble Mechanic recommends checking each function separately instead of turning on all the lights at once.

Have the other person check the brake lights while you press the brake pedal. Also, keep your foot on the brake pedal and shift into reverse so he can see if the reverse lights are working properly.

After completing the inspection, be sure to replace any bulbs that are not working properly. If a light still doesn’t work after a bulb is changed, the Humble Mechanic says it could be a fuse, wiring or computer issue. Check with your local auto parts store or mechanic if you need assistance.

Taking a little time for basic car maintenance may help minimize maintenance issues and get your student on the road to what will hopefully be a fantastic school year. If you have any concerns after your own inspection, talk to a qualified mechanic who can help with any necessary repairs.

Originally published on August 24, 2011.

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Back-to-School Safety Tips

As the summer winds down, it’s time to think about the kids starting a new school year. Whether your children walk to school or take a bus, are starting kindergarten or high school, you want to keep them safe. Here are some helpful tips for back-to-school safety.

Getting to and Home from School: Tips for Kids

From walking through the neighborhood to getting on the bus, these tips are meant to help kids get to school safely.

Walking

Parents may want to practice walking to school with kids to help teach them how to do so safely, recommends the National Safety Council (NSC). Also, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says children younger than 10 years old should be accompanied by an adult when walking to school.

While walking:

• Use sidewalks and crosswalks. When there isn’t a sidewalk, walk on the edge of the street and face traffic, says the NHTSA.
• Before crossing a street, stop and look left, right and then left again to be sure no cars are coming, says the NSC.
• Do not walk while talking on the phone, texting or wearing headphones, says the NSC. You don’t want to be distracted near traffic, and you should be able to hear approaching vehicles.

Biking

Riding a bike can be a fun way to get to school, but there are a few safety tips bike riders should follow:

• Always wear a helmet, says the NHTSA. Make sure it fits properly and that the chin strap is fastened.
• Ride single file on the right side of the road (going the same direction as traffic), says the NSC. The NHTSA says bike riders need to obey all traffic signs and signals.
• Use bike lanes whenever they are available, says the NHTSA. If riding on the sidewalk, use caution near pedestrians, says the NSC.
• Use hand signals to alert other riders and drivers when you are going to stop or turn, says the NSC.
• Walk the bike across streets, recommends the NSC.

Taking the Bus

To help stay safe while on or around school buses, follow these tips from the NHTSA:

• At the bus stop:
  • Stay at least 6 feet away from the curb.
  • Do not run around while waiting.
• Getting on and off the bus:
  • Wait for the bus to stop completely and for the door to open.
  • Only get on or off the bus once the driver says it is OK.
  • Once seated, always face forward.
  • Use seat belts when they are available, says the NSC.
• Near the bus:
  • Do not cross behind a school bus.
  • If you need to cross in front of the bus, make sure you are at least 10 feet in front of the bus before crossing.
  • Tell the driver if you drop something near the bus. Do not lean down to pick it up, as the bus driver may not be able to see you.

Sharing the Road: Tips for Motorists

Drivers should use extra caution in school zones, especially at drop-off and pick-up times. The NSC recommends that drivers:

• Yield to pedestrians and bike riders in crosswalks, and never block crosswalks.
• Do not pass a vehicle waiting for pedestrians to cross.
• Do not pass a school bus that is picking up or dropping off children
• Leave enough space between your vehicle and the bus for children to safely enter and exit.
• Always stop for a school staff or crossing guard directing traffic and holding up a stop sign.

The start of a new school year is an exciting time. With a little knowledge and some planning, we can all help our kids get to school and home again safely.

Originally published on September 13, 2011.

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