Bus Stops: Best Practices

The safety of our students and Transportation Department staff is our top priority. In order to ensure the safety of all, we employ a number of best practices when it comes to designing bus routes. We appreciate the partnership with our community to reinforce these best practices.

• Limiting excessive numbers of bus stops—We limit the number of bus stops as much as possible. This reduces the potential for increased student injury outside the bus and with other motor vehicles.
• Bus Stop Wait Time - Having students report to the bus stop prior to the arrival of the bus (approximately five minutes before scheduled time) helps our substitute drivers locate your bus stop and the students.
• Bus Stop Wait Location - Waiting 15 feet away from the road and in the driveway or walkway closest to their bus stop location helps to ensure students are visible to all drivers. As the wintry weather leaves banks of snow along the road, visibility is reduced and safety concerns are increased. Waiting 15 feet away from the bus stop at all times will help develop a routine for a safe and visible waiting location that is not weather dependent.
• Added Bus Stops - We do not add extra bus stops due to inclement weather, the absence of sidewalks, or a lack of visibility from the student’s home should not be compromised for convenience.
• Crossing in Front of the Bus - We ask our students to waiting for the red lights on the bus and the driver's signal to cross and/or board the bus. The bus driver sits in a position to accurately evaluate oncoming traffic and will signal when he/she is confident all traffic has stopped.
• Exiting the Bus – We ask our students to exit the bus when the red lights are activated and the driver secures the bus and gives a signal to the student. After the bus driver has signaled students may cross, students should stand 15 feet away from the bus. Students staying on the exited side of the bus should also stay 15 feet away from the bus until the bus has pulled away.

Student Drop-Off Safety

Parents who drive children to school are asked to please refrain from dropping them off in the bus loading zones or parking lots. Parents may check with their child’s school for specific instructions about student drop-off.

School Bus Safety Drills and Instruction

Provisions are made to ensure that riders receive the following:

1. Practice and instruction in the location, use, and operation of emergency door, fire extinguishers, first aid equipment, and windows as a means of escape in case of fire or accident.
2. Instruction in safe boarding and exiting procedures with specific emphasis on when and how to approach, board, disembark, and move away from the bus after disembarking. 
3. Instruction in the orderly conduct by all school bus passengers with specific emphasis given to student discipline rules and regulations promulgated by the Board of Education.
4. On-board emergency drills. All riders will participate in emergency drills upon arrival in the morning at the school. These may be staggered over a few days at the particular school so that staff coverage can be provided.