School buses are one of the safest modes of transportation for getting kids to and from school. In fact, a child is at greater risk approaching or leaving a bus than travelling on one.
Until they are at least 10 years old, children do not have the developmental maturity required to cross the road safely without holding an adult’s hand. It is up to you to teach kids safe behaviour and to be aware of their surroundings when catching the bus.
Remind older children that their behaviour around buses and in general will dictate the actions of smaller children who see the “big kids” as role models.
Scroll to the bottom of this page for School Bus Safety Brochures that you can use to educate kids about safe behaviour.
School pick up
All children (especially little ones) are excited to see their parents/caregivers after a long day at school. Their excitement makes them likely to run straight across a road. When meeting kids please wait for them on the same side of the road as the bus stop, and never park in a bus zone.
Parking opposite the bus stop (on the other side of the road) is dangerous and is one of the most frequent causes of accidents at bus stops.
If you must park on the other side of the road, get out of your vehicle, cross the road, and wait on the same side as the bus stop.
A good idea is to agree on a designated waiting place close to the bus stop. As well as preventing a child from running across the road, it also gives them somewhere to wait if you are running late.
Also see Driving in and around school zones.
School Bus Safety Brochures
Our School Bus Safety brochures for little and primary age kids are designed for parents, carers and educators to print out and read through with them.
The School Bus Safety for students brochure can be printed and handed out to/discussed with students in classrooms or at home.
Please download and print these, and help us teach kids to be safe around buses.
- School Bus Safety for little kids (parents and carers)
- School bus safety for primary age kids (parents, carers and educators)
- School bus safety for students (older students)