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School Buses
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- More than 80,000 children ride school buses every day
in Saskatchewan.
- In 2008, there were 13 casualty collisions involving school buses, resulting in 20 injuries and 1 death. Of the injuries, 6 were to school bus occupants and 14 were to occupants of other vehicles. The death was a driver of another vehicle.
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The single biggest threat to the safety of children who ride school
buses is motorists who pass the bus when children are loading or
unloading.
Traffic congestion in school bus loading zones can lead to accidents,
so it's safer to avoid driving and parking in those areas. You might
also face a heavy fine for parking in those marked zones.
If you must drive in those areas, obey all signs and signals, and
watch for children who may not know the rules for crossing the street.
When approaching a bus, begin to slow down as soon as the flashing
red stop lamps come on, so the bus driver can see that you are going
to stop. You may not pass the bus once the flashing lights are activated.
Please keep in mind that buses don't always have to use red flashing
lamps and stop arms. Make sure you know the school bus rules for
your community and always exercise caution when approaching a school
bus. They transport precious cargo!
You can ensure a safe ride for your children by teaching them these
safety habits:
- Always stand three metres (two arms' lengths) away from the
curb when waiting for the bus to pick you up. If you stand too
close to the road, drivers may not be able to see you until it's
too late. You could be hit by a vehicle.
- Approach the bus only when it has come to a complete stop and
the driver has opened the door. If you try to get on or off the
bus too quickly, you could injure yourself.
- Be a considerate passenger. Find a seat as soon as you get on
the bus and stay in that seat for the entire ride.
- It's okay to talk, but keep voices down and pay attention to
the bus driver.
- Buses have large blind spots behind, in front of and beside
the bus. When getting off the bus, move quickly and safely through
these areas, making sure the bus driver can see you. Always follow
the instructions of the bus driver.
- Be careful with clothing that has drawstrings. The strings may
get caught in the handrail on the door. Tuck the strings into
the clothing or cut them off completely.
Provincial statistics provided by Saskatchewan Traffic Accident
Information System 2008 report.
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