Laidlaw Offers School Bus Safety Tips To Students

Laidlaw, District 200’s bus service provider, offers the following bus safety tips for students:

• Accidents often happen when students are in a hurry. Students should allow enough time to get to the bus stop five minutes before it arrives.
• Use the sidewalks. If there are no sidewalks, walk on the left facing traffic, and stay as far to the side of the road as possible.
• When waiting for your bus to come, stay away from traffic. Do not play or roughhouse in the street.
• Never walk behind the bus, and stay away from the rear wheels at all times.
• Use a backpack or tote bag to carry your items.
• Remove drawstrings, toggles or key chains from children’s clothing or the outside of backpacks since they can be caught on handrails or exit doors, which could result in injury.
• Use the handrail when boarding or exiting the bus.
• Once you board the bus, find a seat, sit down and talk quietly.
• Know and carefully follow all loading and unloading rules explained to you by your school bus driver.
• Never put your head, arms or hands out of the window.
• Wait for the bus to stop completely before getting up from your seat.
• Take 10 giant steps away from the bus when exiting.
• Look both ways before crossing the road and wait for the driver’s signal.
• Keep away from the bus if you drop or forget anything.

As a fun way to encourage bus safety among young students, Laidlaw offers a free coloring book to download from its website at www.laidlawschoolbus.com.