As National School Safety Week ends Monday, and with the weather and visibility worsening in the Southern Interior, ICBC says it’s still an important time to remind everyone of the rules of the road when driving near school buses and in school zones.
The greatest risk to children’s safety is outside the bus, either from the bus itself or from surrounding traffic. Here are ICBC’s top-10 tips for parents and drivers to help keep children safe.
1. Always stay 10 giant steps in front of or beside the bus so that the driver can see you and you can see the driver. Be ready to stop for a school bus with flashing lights.
2. Never walk behind the bus. That’s the danger zone because the bus driver cannot see you.
3. Make sure your shoelaces are tied so you don’t trip entering or exiting the bus. Scarves or loose drawstrings on clothing can be hazardous – they could catch onto the bus or bus door when entering or exiting and you could be dragged alongside the bus out of the driver’s view.
4. Wait for the bus in an orderly manner, so you don’t fall or get pushed in front of the bus or other traffic. Board the bus in single file. Use the handrail so you don’t trip on the steps.
5. Sit down right away, so you don’t fall when the bus starts moving.
6. Sit all the way back in your seat so the aisle isn’t blocked. Keep the aisle clear of feet, backpacks, books, etc.
7. Talk quietly so the driver can concentrate on driving.
8. Keep your head, arms and hands inside the bus, not out the window. Never throw things in the bus or out the window.
9. Wait until the bus stops moving before standing up to exit the bus.
10. When exiting, be sure the red lights of the school bus are flashing before crossing the road. Check the traffic around you. Be sure all drivers see you and it’s safe for you to proceed before you cross.
There’s also top tips for motorists to remember:
1. Vehicles in all lanes, from either direction, must stop when approaching a stopped school bus with flashing lights.
2. Do not pass a school bus when its lights are flashing. Drivers are fined $368 for passing a stopped school bus while it’s displaying flashing red lights to load or unload students.
3. After stopping for a school bus, don’t start moving again until the bus moves on or the driver signals that it’s safe to by turning off its flashing lights and pulling in its stop sign.
4. It only takes a few seconds for a child to run out onto the road, so be extra careful in and around school zones.
5. If you’re picking up a child from a bus stop, always stop on the same side of road to help prevent the child from having to cross the street.
6. Always obey the 30km/hour speed limit in school zones from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. on school days.