제  목 : School Bus Safety Rules
  일  자 : 1998년 09월
  제공처 : Internet

                    School Bus Safety Rules
                    ========================
    For some 20 million students nationwide, the school day begins and ends
    with a trip on a school bus. Unfortunately, each year many youngsters
    are injured and several are killed in school bus incidents.

    According to National Safety Council estimates, school bus transportation
    incidents killed an estimated 169 persons nationwide in the school year
    1995-1996, including 43 pupils and 126 other persons. Of the pupils
    killed, 27 were pedestrians either approaching or leaving a loading zone.
    About one quarter of the pupil pedestrian victims were struck by the
    school bus which they were entering or leaving. Injuries in school
    bus-related incidents in '95-'96 totaled about 19,000, of which 13,000
    were students. Again, most injuries occurred while the students were
    pedestrians.

    Although drivers of all vehicles are required to stop for a school bus
    when it is stopped to load or discharge passengers, children should not
    rely on them to do so. The National Safety Council encourages parents to
    teach their youngsters these rules for getting on and off the school bus:

    When waiting for the bus, stay away from traffic and avoid roughhousing
    or other behavior that can lead to carelessness. Do not stray onto
    streets, alleys or private property.
    Line up away from the street or road as the school bus approaches. Wait
    until the bus has stopped and the door opens before stepping onto the
    roadway.
    Use the hand rail when stepping onto the bus.
    When on the bus, find a seat and sit down. Loud talking or other noise
    can distract the bus driver and is not allowed. Never put head, arms or
    hands out of the window.
    Keep aisles clear -- books or bags are tripping hazards and can block the
    way in an emergency.
    Before you reach your stop, get ready to leave by getting your books and
    belongings together.
    At your stop, wait for the bus to stop completely before getting up from
    your seat. Then, walk to the front door and exit, using the hand rail.
    If you have to cross the street in front of the bus, walk at least ten
    feet ahead of the bus along the side of the road, until you can turn
    around and see the driver. Make sure that the driver can see you. Wait
    for a signal from the driver before beginning to cross. When the driver
    signals, walk across the road, keeping an eye out for sudden traffic
    changes.
    Do not cross the center line of the road until the driver has signaled
    that it is safe for you to begin walking.
    Stay away from the bus' rear wheels at all times.

    The Council also suggests that parents review with their children the
    correct way to cross the street.

    Youngsters should always stop at the curb or the edge of the road and
    look left, then right, and then left again before crossing.
    They should continue looking in this manner until they are safely across.
    If students' vision is blocked by a parked car or other obstacle, they
    should move out to where drivers can see them and they can see other
    vehicles -- then stop, and look left-right-left again.

  A not-for-profit, nongovernmental public service organization
          1121 Spring Lake Drive, Itasca, IL 60143-3201
             Tel: (630) 285-1121; Fax: (630) 285-1315