Although the school bus is probably the safest way for your child to travel to, and from, school each day, the reality is that school bus accidents do occasionally happen on NJ roads. Moreover, some school bus accidents can cause significant physical injuries to the young passengers. That’s why it is crucial that you have a conversation with your child about school bus safety and ensure that they understand just how important it is for them to take precautions while riding the bus.
Here are a few things you can teach your kids about school bus safety:
- Walk, Don’t Run: Whether it’s just before getting on the bus at the bus stop or while preparing to exit the bus after it has arrived at school, your children should avoid running. Tell your kids to be patient when boarding or leaving the bus. Let them know that the school bus poses serious risks to their safety while it is in motion
- Stand Away from the Road: While waiting for the bus to arrive at the bus stop, your kids should make sure that they remain a safe distance away from the road. Although the bus driver is expected to slow down when approaching the bus stop, the vehicle is large and can be difficult to bring to a quick stop if necessary. When the bus shows up, your child should wait for the vehicle to come to a complete stop before attempting to board.
- Wear a Seatbelt: If the school bus is equipped with seatbelts, make sure that your kid knows to wear their seatbelt. Not only will this potentially save their life in the event of a crash, it will also get them in the habit of wearing a seatbelt anytime they ride in a motor vehicle.
- Use Handrails: If the bus is equipped with handrails near the entrance, your child should use them to avoid a serious slip & fall accident.
- Don’t Distract the Bus Driver: Although children are likely to talk with friends and seatmates while riding the bus, it is imperative that they avoid being too loud or otherwise distracting the bus driver. One of the major causes of motor vehicle accidents is a distracted driver, so let your kids know that the bus driver needs to be able to focus on the road while traveling.
- Don’t Play with the Windows: It can be tempting for a child to stick their hand out of the window while the bus is in motion. This is incredibly dangerous and exposes the child to risk of serious injury.
- Don’t Play with the Emergency Exit: The emergency exit on the bus exists for a reason. Unless it is an actual emergency, your kid should never tinker with the exit door.
- Pay Attention: If your child fails to pay attention while riding the bus, they could miss their stop and wind up without any way of getting home. So make sure that your kid remains aware of their intended destination – and gets off the bus when it stops there.
If your child was injured while riding a school bus in New Jersey, the skilled personal injury attorneys at Bramnick, Rodriguez, Grabas, Arnold & Mangan, LLC can help. We have extensive experience handling personal injury cases throughout New Jersey. Contact the Bramnick Rodriguez legal team anytime for a free consultation.