SAFETY CONCERN AREA #4
Emergency Situations
(Be Prepared)
The School Bus is several times safer to ride than is the family carhowever accidents can still occur.
<In the event of an accident>
Stay calm.
Stop talking.
Listen for instructions from your driver.
Do not use emergency equipment unless instructed to do so.
<Do not evacuate the bus unless>
You are instructed by the driver to do so.
There is a fire or danger of being a fire.
The bus is located in an unsafe position – on a blind area in the
roadway, on a railroad crossing, or in any unsafe location.
<If you must evacuate the bus>
Do not crowd the aisle.
Keep moving towards the exit.
Keep all lose clothing wrapped tightly around you so that you do not
get caught on anything.
Keep your hands free – leave all your belongings behind.
Move quickly away from the bus to a safe location. Walk does not
run to prevent further injury to you.
*************************************************************
During practice drills, you will be instructed on where the emergency
equipment is located and how to use it. You will also be instructed as
to the location of all emergency exits, how to open them, how to set
the emergency parking brake and how to use the two-way radio to
call for help. In the event that the driver is injured in an accident, your
help may be needed. TAKE EVACUATION DRILLS SERIOUSLY!
E – MER – GEN – CY
…. A situation requiring immediate action.
SHANDON JOINT
UNIFIED SCHOOL
DISTRICT
Transportation Safety
on the
School Bus
SHANDON UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
TRANSPORTATION SAFETY ON THE SCHOOL BUS
Dear Parents and Students:
This informational pamphlet is designed in accordance with Education
Code 39831.5, section (a) to help you assist our staff in providing
the safest, efficient, and most enjoyable means of student
transportation possible.
1 out of 3 SHANDON UNIFIED SCHOOL students ride our
school buses to or from school daily. Each day our school buses
transport more than 130 pupils to and from Shandon Schools and
Special Day Classes in Paso Robles. The drivers of these buses are
professionally trained individuals who assert a high standard of
excellence. They possess technical skills, knowledge of laws and
regulations, policies and procedures, passenger management, and
first aide training. Improvement is on going in the knowledge, skills,
abilities, and attitudes that are necessary to safely operate a school
bus.
I don’t need the bus todayPlease call the transportation office anytime (24 hours) and leave a
message on the answering machine. (805) 239-2326
Please try to call the transportation office prior to 6:30 A.M.
All of the buses have left the yard on a normal day by 6:50 A.M. If
there is not an answer prior to this time, the drivers may be outside pretripping their buses.
If there is not an answer at the transportation office leave a message
and call the district office at (805) 238-0286. They will notify the
driver on the two-way radio.
Thank you for your cooperation with this matter.
Gill Lachance
glachance@shandonschools.org
<Remain seated and total silence at all Railroad Crossings>
It is required by law that the bus stop and the driver opens the
entrance door at all Railroad Crossing so that they can look and
listen for an approaching train.
<Do not allow large object to block the aisle or emergency exits>
In the event of an emergency these areas must be clear.
<Learn the location of all emergency exits and procedures>
The drivers will perform a drill with the bus riders and prior to
departure on any activity trip with all the passengers.
BE A RESPONSIBLE BUS RIDER-RIDING THE BUS IS A PRIVILEGE!!!
SAFETY CONCERN AREA #3
Outside of the Bus
(The Danger Zone)
The Danger/Death Zone:
Most injuries and deaths involving a school bus occur OUTSIDE of
the bus. Even though there are mirrors, often times the driver
cannot or does not see people close to the bus.
*Children who do not move away from the bus can get their jacket
strings, objects hanging off backpacks or other items snagged on the
bus. They could be drug by the bus or even ran over. Students
should never reach under the bus to retrieve something that they may
have dropped. Always get help from the driver.
<Never touch the exterior or try to ride on the bumper or race the bus>
You could lose your footing, fall and be run over by the bus>
DANGER ZONE:
SAFETY CONCERN AREA #1
At the Bus Stop
(Loading and Unloading)
UNLOADING:
LOADING:
< Be on time at your designated stop>
Start well ahead of time, rather than being in a hurry and running to the
bus stop…Walk safely
Never run to or from the bus. Arrive at your bus stop 5 minutes before
the bus is due to arrive, but not to early! If you are riding a different
route or using a different stop than your regular designated stop, bring
a permission note from your parent / guardian.
<Wait for the bus in a safe place, clear of traffic and 12 feet away
from where the bus stops>
Avoid horseplay and respect the privacy and property of others while
waiting for the bus. Form a single file line facing the direction that the
bus will be approaching the stop.
<Do not move towards the bus until it is completely stopped and the
entrance door is opened>
The driver must stop the bus a minimum of 12 feet away from the first
student in line… be safe, stay back and wait for the entrance door to
open. This is the signal that the bus is secured and that the driver is
ready for you to board.
<Enter the bus in an orderly manner, use the handrails, and go
directly to an available or assigned seat>
<Never chase the bus after the door is closed or the bus has pulled
away from the bus stop>
Even with multiply large mirrors and intensive safety training, the driver
may not see a small child who is very near the body of the bus.
<If you are late as the bus arrives and must cross the street to the
bus stop…Wait!!! Do not run across the street>
The “Flashing Red Lights and Stop Arm” must be activated! Your driver
will secure the bus, check traffic, turn on the lights/stop arm, come out
in the street with a hand-held stop sign, stop traffic, and let you know
when it is safe to cross the roadway and board the bus.
<Remain seated until the bus is completely stopped and the door is
opened>
The opening of the door is your signal that the bus is secured and it is
now safe to exit the bus.
<Exit the bus in an orderly manner…no jumping, skipping steps or
running…use the handrails.
<Alternate seats beginning with the front of the bus and continuing
to the rear when exiting the bus>
Remember that the red lights are flashing when the bus is stopped for
the purpose of loading or unloading passengers, so this needs to be
completed in a timely, orderly manner.
<Move completely away from the bus, go directly to your home or
ride and stay away from the Danger Zone>
There are areas around the bus that the driver cannot see a small child.
It is very important that you get clear of the vehicle as soon as you exit
the bus. When the driver closes the door and checks their mirrors the
bus will be moving into the flow of traffic as to stay on a schedule for
the next stop.
<Never touch or grab the bus…never crawl or reach under the bus>
If you have dropped an object tell the driver so that they can shut down
the vehicle and retrieve the item for you or assist you in retrieving it. If
the driver does not see you wait until the bus has pulled away to get your
dropped item.
<”Red Light Crossing Stops”>
The law requires that all pupils at or below the 8 th grade level must be
escorted by the driver who shall carry a hand-held stop sign, under the
protection of “Flash Red Lights” and “Stop Signal Arm” at any stop
requiring students to cross the roadway upon which the bus is stopped.
The Shandon School District policy is to escort any pupil who must cross
the roadway.
Any student who must cross the roadway must wait for the
driver to tell the student it is safe to cross and must walk straight
across the street between the driver and the front of the bus.
SAFETY CONCERN AREA #2
Inside the Bus
(Safety, Order, Rights of Others)
School Bus Rider Rules 3 Main Categories
The first is related to those behaviors that could compromise the
safety of others.
While the school bus driver is primarily responsible for
the students’ safety…
STUDENTS ALSO HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES!!!
PLEASE READ THE SUGGESTIONS PROVIDED HEREIN AND
FOLLOW THE ADVICE ABOUT OUR SAFETY CONCERN AREAS.
The second focuses on those behaviors that interfere with the
timely and orderly service.
#1.
At the bus stop
(Loading and Unloading)
The third aims at those behaviors that interfere with the rights of
others.
<Always listen to and cooperate with your bus driver>
The bus driver is directly responsible for their passengers and is in
charge of their conduct at all times. Learn and obey the standard
School Bus Rules that are posted inside of the school bus. Parents;
you can be very helpful by supporting your child’s bus driver and
backing up his/her authority.
<Take your seat, face forward, feet on the floor, and remain seated at
all times when the bus is in motion>
The School Bus is built with automatic passive protection
(compartmentalization), which is most effective for the safety of
the passengers when they are properly seated.
<Keep your body inside the bus at all times, especially when the bus is in
motion>
Do not throw anything outside or inside the bus.
<Be courteous to the driver and to the other passengers>
You must respect the rights of everyone on the bus by not using
profanity, talking quietly with others on appropriate topics, and keep
your hands to yourself.
<Never throw things inside the bus>
Balls, bats, etc. will not be allowed in the bus without being placed
in a backpack or appropriate bag. Keep all papers, binders, and
books in a backpack or bag so that they are not distracting to you
or the driver. Take litter with you as you get off the bus.
#2.
Inside the bus
(Safety, Order, Rights of Others)
#3.
Outside the bus
(The Danger Zone)
#4.
Emergency Situations
(Be Prepared)