99092023

Story:

As a new academic year begins, parents often find themselves grappling with anxiety about their children’s safety when they board the school bus. The act of entrusting their “precious cargo” to a bus driver can be nerve-wracking. However, Jonathan Bentley, the Managing Director of the non-profit Pupil Transportation Safety Institute, assures parents that understanding the safety measures taken by school transportation departments and their staff can help alleviate these fears. Behind the scenes, there are stringent rules and regulations in place to ensure the utmost safety for children. Bentley emphasizes the importance of parents familiarizing themselves with these protocols to feel more confident about their children’s daily journey to and from school.

Senses (Child Safeguarding and Protection Principles):

1. Trust in Pre-Qualified Bus Drivers: School bus drivers are required to meet federal qualifications, including training and certification, before they can transport children. Understanding the rigorous standards drivers must meet can reassure parents.
2. Check for Loose Items: Parents should inspect their children’s clothing and backpacks for any loose items that could become entangled in bus mechanisms. Dangling items like drawstrings and scarves should be secured.
3. Teach Proper Bus Behavior: Parents should educate their children on appropriate bus behavior, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a quiet and respectful atmosphere within the bus to prevent distractions.
4. Safe Exiting and Crossing: Children should exit the bus in front of it and never behind. This practice ensures the driver or monitor can maintain visibility. Children should avoid trying to retrieve dropped items near the bus’s mechanics and instead inform the driver.
5. Patience and Flexibility: Families should be patient and adaptable when it comes to bus schedules, understanding that factors like road conditions and traffic can impact arrival times. Venting frustrations on the driver or causing distractions can be counterproductive and unsafe.

Stones (Child Safeguarding and Protection Lessons for Parents, Government, and Society):

Parents, Government Agencies, and Society at large should:

1. Ensure school bus drivers undergo comprehensive training and certification to guarantee the safety of children during transportation.
2. Promote awareness among parents regarding the importance of inspecting children’s clothing and backpacks for loose items that could pose safety risks.
3. Advocate for educational initiatives to teach children about proper behavior on school buses, fostering a respectful and distraction-free environment.
4. Encourage safe exiting and crossing practices for children to minimize potential dangers and obstructed driver views.
5. Promote patience and flexibility in parents and guardians, emphasizing that bus schedules can be affected by unforeseen circumstances, such as road conditions and traffic. Parents should address concerns through appropriate channels, avoiding interactions that may compromise safety.

Acknowledgment: Safety tips provided by Jane Ridley in the New York Daily News article titled “Kids’ clothes and backpacks should never be loose when boarding a school bus — and 4 other safety tips parents should know from a transportation expert” on Sep 11, 2023.