SCHOOL BUS SAFETY

STOP
WHAT
PARENTS
SHOULD KNOW

ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

Making Illinois Schools Second to None
Funded by
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
and
Illinois Department of Transportation - Division of Traffic Safety

SCHOOL BUS SAFETY INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

With the beginning of each school year, it is important to be reminded
about the safety of students being transported to and from school and
school-related activities. Federal law requires that manufacturers meet
stringent safety standards for vehicles used by or for a district. These
standards require school buses to be more conspicuous (amber and red
flashing warning lights, stop arms and crossing arms), and have enhanced
seating systems, crashworthiness protection, mirrors and emergency exits.
What does this mean for the children that ride the Big Yellow Bus? It
means they are virtually riding in a steel cage.
What are the safety features of the school bus that make it so special?
Consider the following safety features of school buses that are not found in
any other passenger vehicle:
School bus seats are above the crash line so that the impact of a
vehicle colliding with a school bus impacts beneath the seated
passengers;
Rollover protection which specifies the minimum structural strength
of buses in rollover-type accidents;
Body joint strength which specifies the minimum strength of the
joints between panels that comprise the bus body and the body
structure;
Passenger seating and crash protection which establishes requirements for school bus seating systems for all sizes of school buses;
Pedestrian safety devices with an automatic stop signal arm on
the left side the bus to alert motorists that they should stop their
vehicles to allow students to board or leave the stopped school
bus, and school bus safety crossing arms which require students
to walk at least eight to ten feet in front of the school bus to cross
a roadway;
Amber and red flashing warning lights to alert other motorists
that the school bus is stopping to load or discharge students;
Mirror systems which provide school bus drivers with a full view
of the front and sides of the school bus danger zones;
Bus emergency exits (doors, windows and roof hatches);
Bus fuel system integrity (a steel cage around the fuel tank); and
Fingerprinting, physical examinations (including drug and alcohol
testing), training, licensing and permitting of school bus drivers.
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PUPIL TRANSPORTATION ELIGIBILITY

1. What districts are required to provide free transportation?

Community unit districts

Community consolidated districts
Consolidated elementary and high school districts
Combined districts if they include any district that was previously
required to provide free transportation

2. What are the distance requirements for transportation?

Free transportation shall be provided by school districts listed above if
the pupils live at least one and one-half miles from the school to which
they are assigned, except where adequate transportation for the public
exists.
3. How does the district determine the distance of one and onehalf miles?
Article 29 of the Illinois School Code (105 ILCS 5/29-3), states that the
distance shall be measured from the exit of the residence property to
the point where pupils are normally unloaded at the school attended by
determining the shortest distance on normally traveled roads or streets.
Pupils can also be required to walk up to one and one-half miles from their
residence to a pick-up point regardless of the distance traveled by bus.
4. Does the district have to provide door-to-door transportation?
No. Door-to-door transportation is provided only for special needs
students whose Individualized Education Program (IEP) requires a
child to be picked up at the door. Children under the age of five can be
considered special needs by age alone; however, parents are expected
to get the child to the curb for transportation purposes. All students in
grades K through 12 can be expected to walk to a pick-up point up
to one and one-half miles from their home, regardless of the distance
they travel by the school bus.
5. What is meant by adequate transportation for the public?
Adequate transportation for the public is defined as a pupils ability to
get to school by walking, one way, along normally traveled roads or
streets less than one and one-half miles from home to school; bicycling;
or riding available mass transit routes.
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6. Does the district have to provide transportation for my child if

it is too dangerous to walk?
Article 29-3 states that school districts may provide free transportation for any pupil living less than one and one-half miles from the school
attended where conditions are such that walking, either to or from the
assigned school or to or from a school bus pick-up point, constitutes a
serious hazard to the safety of the pupil that is due to vehicular
traffic or rail crossings. The district must have a Department of
Transportation approved safety hazard application on file. Such transportation shall not be provided if adequate transportation for the
public is available.
7. Who determines whether a safety hazard exists?
The school district will conduct a study of the walking routes of pupils
and submit an application to the Illinois Department of Transportation
who will then determine whether the application and findings meet the
DOT requirements.
8. I cant get my district to cooperate. What can I do?
If parents believe that a vehicular safety hazard exists for their child
walking up to one and one-half miles to school, they may send a
written petition to the local school board and request that a safety
hazard study be done and the findings be submitted to the Department
of Transportation.
9. How long does this process take?
The Department of Transportation shall review and approve or
disapprove the school boards findings within 30 days after receipt
of the school boards application.
10. What can I do if the district refuses to transport my child and
there is a safety hazard approval from the Department of
Transportation?
The language of Article 29-3 is permissive in that districts may
provide free transportation and receive reimbursement for the
cost of transporting the pupils. However, district liability is
greater if a fatal accident occurs and the district has a serious
safety hazard approval on file indicating that the conditions were
a walking hazard due to vehicular traffic.
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11. Whom should I contact if I have questions regarding pupil

transportation?
You should always start with the superintendent for the district in which
your child resides. If you need further assistance, you should contact
the Regional Superintendent of Schools in the county in which you
reside and your childs school is located. If additional assistance is
needed beyond that, you may contact the Division of Funding and
Disbursement Services of the Illinois State Board of Education at
217/782- 5256.

SCHOOL BUS SAFETY TRAINING

105 ILCS 5/27-26 of the Illinois School Code requires that the
curriculum in all public schools and in all other education institutions in
Illinois which provide instruction in any grades from kindergarten through
12, shall include instruction in safe bus-riding practices and emergency
evacuation drills twice annually.
The following safety tips from the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) are provided to help parents teach their children
how to act around school buses.

SCHOOL BUS STOPS: A RISKY PART OF THE RIDE

Why students are in danger
Twenty-five million children in the United States ride safely to and
from school on 440,000 school buses over 4.3 billion miles each year.
Although school buses are the safest way for students to get to and from
school, an average of 33 school-age children die in school-bus-related
traffic crashes each year.
Most of the children killed are pedestrians, five to seven years old.
They are hit within the school bus danger zone and are struck by their own
school bus or by a passing vehicle in violation of the school bus warning
systems. Young children are most likely to be hit because they

hurry to get on or off the bus,

act before they think and have little experience with traffic,
assume motorists will see them and will wait for them to cross,
dont always stay within the bus drivers sight.
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The Danger Zone, also known

as the Death Zone, is the area
5 GIANT STEPS
on all sides of the bus where
children are in the most danger of being hit. Children should stay
ten feet away from the bus (or as far away as they can) and never
go behind it. They should take five giant steps in front of the bus
before crossing, so they can be seen by the driver.

SAFETY STEPS YOU CAN TAKE

Supervise children to make sure they 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/she drops something near the bus. If a child stoops to pick something up, the
driver cannot see him/her, and
the child could be struck 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 that they dont get
caught in the handrail or school
bus door.
Encourage safe school bus
loading and unloading (see next
page).
If you think a bus stop is in a
dangerous place, talk with your
school office or transportation director about changing
the location.
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Children should ask the

driver for help if they drop
something near the bus.

TEACH YOUR CHILD TO GET ON AND OFF THE

SCHOOL BUS SAFELY
When loading, stay
away from the danger
zone and wait for the
drivers signal. Board
the bus in single file.
When unloading, look
before stepping off the
bus to be sure no cars
are passing on the
shoulder (side of the
road). Move away
from the bus.

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BUS

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Supervise children at the school bus stop.

Make sure they move away from the bus,
out of the Danger Zone.

Before crossing the

street, take five giant steps out from the front of the bus (Illinois
has the school bus crossing arm) until you see the drivers face.
The driver will signal you when it is safe to cross the roadway.
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.

INSTRUCTIONS TO SCHOOL BUS RIDERS

School bus riders, while in transit, are under the jurisdiction of the
school bus driver unless the local board of education designates another
adult to supervise the riders.
It is strongly recommended that all riders, parents of riders, and
teachers become thoroughly familiar with the following regulations governing school bus riders. This may be accomplished by giving each student a
mimeographed copy of Instructions to School Bus Riders.
It is also recommended that administrators and parent-teacher
organizations hold school bus transportation meetings throughout the
school year. The Illinois State Board of Education will be happy to assist in
meetings of this type whenever possible.

INSTRUCTIONS
(REMEMBER: These instructions should be followed to ensure the safety
and well being of all students on the bus and to assist the driver in the safe
operation of the school bus vehicle.)

1.

Be on time at the designated school bus stop; help keep the

bus on schedule.

2.

Stay off the road at all times while waiting for the bus.

3.

Be careful in approaching the place where the bus stops.

Do not move toward the bus until the bus has been brought
to a complete stop.

4.

Do not leave your seat while the bus is in motion.

5.

Be alert to a danger signal from the driver.

6.

Remain in the bus in the event of a road emergency until instructions are given by the driver.

7.

Keep hands and head inside the bus at all times after
entering and until leaving the bus. Do not throw anything
out the bus windows.

8.

Remember that loud talking and laughing or unnecessary con

fusion divert the drivers attention and could result in a serious
accident.

9.

Be absolutely quiet when approaching and crossing rail

road crossings.

10.

Treat bus equipment as you would valuable furniture in your

own home. Never tamper with the bus or any of its equipment.

11.

Assist in keeping the bus safe and sanitary at all times. No

eating is allowed on the bus.

12.

Do not bring animals on the bus (except with special permission of the district).

13.

Keep books, packages, coats, and all other objects out of

the aisles and away from emergency exits. These items
should be placed under the school bus seat while in transit.
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14.

Do not leave books, lunches or other articles on the bus.

15.

Be courteous to fellow pupils and the bus driver.

To earn respect, you must first show respect.

16.

Help look after the safety and comfort of smaller children.

Keeping distractions to a minimum will help the bus driver
ensure your safety.

17.

Do not ask the driver to stop at places other than the

regular bus stop. He or she is not permitted to do this
except by proper authorization from a school official.

18.

Observe safety precautions at exit points. Know and

observe the rules. When it is necessary to cross the
highway, proceed to a point at least 10 feet in front of
the bus on the right shoulder of the highway where traffic
maybe observed in both directions. Wait for the signal
from the school bus driver permitting you to cross.

19.

Observe the same rules and regulations on other trips under

school sponsorship as you observe between home and school.
Respect the wishes of the chaperone appointed by the school.

REMEMBER: Your safety on the school bus depends on how well

you conduct yourself as well as how the driver performs his or her
responsibilities. There are consequences for breaking bus-riding
rules, and you can lose your bus-riding privileges as a result of
breaking the rules. The driver also has rules that must be followed
and unsafe driving practices or inappropriate conduct should be
reported to the school superintendent or principal.

PLAY IT SAFE: WALKING SAFELY

(Toddlers and Preschoolers)
Dangers for young children on the move:
Darting out into traffic from the middle of the block.
Playing in or near the street.
Riding a tricycle or bike in a parking lot, driveway, or street.
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Young children are NOT small adults!

They move quickly and can run into the street without warning.
They dont know safety rules and expect adults to watch out for
them.
They are small and hard for drivers to see.
They cannot judge speed or distance of vehicles moving toward
them.
Children hit by cars can be hurt or killed, even when cars are
moving slowly.
Toddlers (one and two) are most often hurt by a backing vehicle.
Preschoolers (three and four) are most often hit when dashing
across a street near home.

Take steps to safety: Supervise, Supervise, Supervise!

Parents and caregivers must watch toddlers and preschoolers
closely when they are near parked or moving vehicles.
To supervise properly, you must be near your child, not watching
from a distance.
Hold your childs hand when you walk together along the street.
Keep children away from traffic.
Fenced yards, parks, or playgrounds are good places for your
child to play.
Young children learn by watching adults.
Show them ways to cross streets. When walking, talk to your
child about street safety.
Show him/her how to stop at the edge of the street and look for
cars.
Dont expect your young child to do this by himself/herself.

KIDS ON THE MOVE: WALKING

AND BIKING SAFELY
(Kindergarten to Grade Three)
Learning to be traffic smart
Children in kindergarten through third grade are learning to become
independent. They enjoy walking, riding bikes, and playing outside. They

dont have the judgement to cope with traffic by themselves yet, but they
can begin to understand safety rules.

What parents need to knowthe bottom line

Parents often think their children are able to handle traffic safely
by themselves before they actually are ready.
Children dont have the skills to handle these risky situations
until at least age ten.
Boys are much more likely than girls to be injured or killed in
traffic.
Bicycles are vehicles. Children should not ride bikes in the road
until they fully understand traffic rules and show they can follow
them.

Young children are NOT small adults!

They often act before thinking and may not do what parents or
drivers expect.
They assume that if they see the driver, the driver sees them.
They cant judge speed and they think cars stop instantly.
They are shorter than adults and cant see over cars, bushes,
and other objects.

Walking risks
Nearly one-third of five- to nine-year-old children killed by motor
vehicles are on foot. They are hit by cars most often when playing near
home. They tend to run into the street in the middle of the block, where
drivers dont expect them.

Bicycling risks
Children can be hurt riding on or off the road. Many children who are
killed in bike crashes are 7 to 12 years old. The most serious injuries
children get while biking are head and brain injuries. Head injuries can
cause death or lifelong disability.

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TAKE STEPS TO SAFETY

Set limits for your child.
As your children grow, set appropriate limits on where they can walk or
bike safely. Dont expect them to be responsible or to start to behave
safely until age ten.

Find safe places for riding and walking.

Find places away from streets, driveways, and parking lots. Good choices
are fenced yards, parks, or playgrounds.

Teach safe walking habits.

Begin to teach your child about how to cross streets safely. Give them
plenty of chances to practice when you are with them.

Be an example.
Young children learn by watching their parents and other adults. Cross
streets properly and always wear a helmet when you ride a bike. When
you are driving, obey speed limits and watch for children.

REVIEW THE FOLLOWING SAFETY TIPS

WITH YOUR CHILD

Toddlers are often hurt

by backing vehicles.

Parks and playgrounds are safe places

to play away from traffic.
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Start helmet use early - even when

riding a tricycle or play vehicle.
Hold your childs hand so she/
he doesnt dash into the street.

Many children are hit by cars

when running into the street.

Set a good example.

Ride with your child and
wear your helmet.

Show your older child

how to look
around parked cars or
objects blocking her/his
view of traffic.
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Making Illinois Schools Second to None

Illinois State Board of Education

Respicio F. Vazquez
State Superintendent of Education

www.isbe.net

100 North First Street Springfield, Illinois 62777-0001

Ronald J. Gidwitz
Chairman
George H. Ryan
Governor

An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer

Printed by the Authority of the State of Illinois April 2002 540M P2-1263 No. 105

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