TRANSPORTATION AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY
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Important Information
for
Agencies
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Transportation Requirements; 1310.10 - General
When an agency provides
transportation through another
organization or an individual, the
agency must ensure the compliance
of the transportation provider with
these requirements:
1.
2.
(d) Each vehicle used in providing
transportation services is equipped
with:
A communication system to call for
assistance in case of an emergency.
Safety equipment for use in an
emergency, including a charged fire
extinguisher that is properly mounted
near the driver’s seat and a sign
indicating its location.
3.
A first aid kit and a sign indicating
the location of such equipment.
4.
A seat belt cutter for use in an
emergency evacuation and a sign
indicating its location.
5.
Height and weight appropriate
safety belts for all children.
6.
A reverse beeper.
Agencies must ensure that there is a
prescribed procedure for examining
the vehicle at the time of arrival to
ensure that they are equipped in
accordance with the specifications.
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Driver Qualifications
When signing a contract with a bus company requiring the services of a
transportation company, you not only have the right to request that the company
provides you with a bus that meets all requirements, but also you want to ensure
that the drivers that will provide services to your agency have received the
required training. Inquire about the driver’s driving record and bus monitor training
to ensure bus drivers have behind-the wheel instruction sufficient to enable them to:
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Operate the vehicle in a safe and efficient manner;
Safely run a fixed route, load and unload children and performing specialized
driving maneuvers;
Administer basic first aid in case of injury;
Handle emergency situations, including emergency evacuation procedures;
Operate any special equipment, such as wheelchair lifts, assistance devices or
special occupant restraints;
Conduct routine maintenance and safety checks of the vehicle;
Provide transportation services for children with disabilities
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Trip Routing & Special Requirements
Each agency must ensure that in planning routes, the safety of the children
being transported is the primary consideration.
The time a child is in transit to and from the program must not exceed one
hour unless there is no shorter route available or any alternative shorter route
is either unsafe or impractical.
Each agency must ensure that children are only released to a parent or legal
guardian, or other individual in writing by the parent or legal guardian.
Agencies must maintain lists of the persons, including alternates in case of
emergency, and up-to-date child rosters must be maintained at all times to
ensure that no child is left behind, either in the classroom or on the vehicle at
the end of the route.
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Safety Education;
Important Information for Teachers
Each agency must provide training for parents and children in pedestrian
safety.
The training provided to children must be developmentally appropriate and
an integral part of the program experiences.
The required transportation and pedestrian safety education of children and
parents must be provided within the first thirty days of the program year.
Training on transportation and pedestrian safety, in addition to evacuation
drills, should occur prior to children going on field trips
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Training for Children & Parents: Content
Each agency must ensure that children and parents
who receive such services are taught:
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Children
Safe riding practices
Safety procedures for boarding
and leaving the vehicle
Safety procedures in crossing the
street to and from the vehicle at
stops
Emergency evacuation
procedures, including participating
in an emergency evacuation drill
conducted on the vehicle the child
will be riding.
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Parents
Emphasize the importance of
escorting their children to the
vehicle stop and the importance of
reinforcing the training provided to
children regarding vehicle safety.
Complement the training provided
to their children so that safety
practices can be reinforced both in
Head Start and at home by the
parent.
Each agency must ensure that at least three bus evacuation
drills are conducted during the program year.
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Pedestrian Safety Classroom Implementation
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Teachers need to develop appropriate lesson plans around safety.
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Teachers should include books regarding transportation safety.
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Teachers need to do role playing activities related to field trips including
safe boarding and exit practices.
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Teachers must assist children in recognizing danger zones and signs.
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Teachers should have children participate in emergency drills conducted
on the vehicle that the children will be riding.
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Teachers (and parents) must be aware of any dangerous area, such a
high traffic road, construction work or gang related activity to avoid taking
children on a walk around that area.
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Safety Tips for Pedestrians (for Children & Parents)
The best way to avoid accidents is to be prepared
and be aware of vehicles around you.
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Walk on sidewalks: If sidewalks are not available, walk on the edge of the
road or on the left shoulder of the road, facing the traffic flow. Use pedestrian
bridges when they are available.
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Cross at marked crosswalks or intersections. Pedestrians are most often hit
by cars when they cross the road at places other than intersections.
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Look left, right, and left for traffic. Stop at the curb and look left, right, and left
again for traffic. Stopping at the curb signals drivers that you intend to cross.
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Always obey traffic signals at intersections where traffic is controlled by
signals or traffic officer, do not cross against the stop signal unless directed
by an officer or crossing guard.
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Safety Tips for Pedestrians (for Children & Parents)
1.
See and be seen: Drivers need to see you to avoid you.
2.
Stay out of driver’s blind spot. (Explain blind spot to children).
3.
Make eye contact with drivers when crossing busy streets.
4.
Wear bright colors or reflective clothing if you are walking near traffic at night.
5.
Carry a flashlight when walking in the dark.
6.
Do not let children play near traffic or cross the streets by themselves.
7.
Be aware of the effects of prescription and non-prescription medications,
drugs and alcohol have on your judgment and motor skills. Take the bus, cab,
or ask a friend for a ride, but do not walk or drive.
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Safety Procedures for Crossing the Street
Children should be able to recognize and
know the importance of safe practices when
crossing the street, such as traffic signs, lights
and sounds.
Children should stop at the curb, then look to
the left, to the right, and back to the left
again.
Teach children never to cross the street
without a grown-up.
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Safety Procedures for Boarding and
Leaving the Vehicle for Children
Walking to the Bus Stop:
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Always walk on the sidewalk to the bus stop, never run. If there is no sidewalk,
walk on the left facing traffic.
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Go to the bus stop about five minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive.
While at the bus stop, wait quietly in a safe place well away from the road.
Do not run and play while waiting.
Getting On and Off the Bus:
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Enter the bus in line. Hold handrail while going up and down the stairs.
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When entering the bus, go directly to the seat, Remain seated and face forward
during the entire ride.
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Buckle up right away. Wear your seat belt every time, no matter how short the
trip is.
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Safety Procedures for Boarding and
Leaving the Vehicle; cont…
Riding the Bus:
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Always speak quietly on the bus so the driver will not be distracted. Always be
silent when a bus comes to a railroad crossing so the driver can hear if a train
is coming.
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Never throw things on the bus or out the windows. Keep the aisles clear at all
times. Feet should be directly in front of you on the floor and book bags
should be kept under your seat or in a designated area. Large equipment
should not block the aisle or emergency exits.
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Never play with the emergency exits. If there is an emergency, listen to the
driver and follow instructions.
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Hands should be kept to yourself at all times while riding on the bus. Fighting
and picking on others creates a dangerous bus ride.
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Safety Procedures for Boarding and Leaving the
Vehicle; cont…
Exiting the Bus
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If you leave something on the bus, never return to the bus to get it. The driver
may not see you come back and he/she may begin to moving the bus. Make
sure that loose objects such as shoe laces or drawstrings are secure before
getting off the bus so that they do not get caught on the handrail or door.
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Respect the “Danger Zone” that surrounds all sides of the bus.
The “Danger Zone” of the bus is ten feet wide on all sides of the bus. Always
remain 10 steps away from the bus to be out of the danger zone and where the
driver can see you.
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Always cross the street in front of the bus. Never go behind the bus. If you drop
something near the bus, tell the bus driver before you attempt to pick it up.
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Safety Riding Practices
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Pre-trip and post-trip inspections should be conducted by
driver and staff to ensure children are not left behind.
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Baggage an other items are properly stored and secured; aisles & doors
cleared; emergency exits are unobstructed at all times.
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All vehicles occupants must be seated and wearing height and weight
appropriate safety restraints while bus is in motion, except for staff/volunteers
that are assisting children.
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Teachers must conduct emergency drills in the same vehicle.
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Teachers must provide children with safety training prior to a field trip or walk
through the community.
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Recognition of the Danger Zones around the vehicles
The “Danger Zone” of the vehicle is
ten feet wide
on all sides of the bus.
Tips for children:
Respect the “Danger Zone” which surrounds all sides of the bus.
Always remain ten steps away from the bus to be out of the “Danger Zone”
Always cross the street in front of the bus. Never go behind the bus.
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Safety for Parents
In addition to discussing the same safety procedures for crossing the street, boarding a vehicle, riding and leaving a
vehicle, emphasize to parents the importance of the following:
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Never let your child play near the street. Your child may dart out into traffic without thinking. The park playground is
the best place to play.
Teach your child safe street habits. Teach your child to stop at the curb, then look to the left, to the right, and back to
the left again. Teach your child never to cross the street without a grown-up.
Your child should use a booster seat until the belt can be worn low and flat on the hips and shoulder belt can be
worn across the shoulders rather than the face or neck (usually at about 80 pounds and 4 feet 9 inches tall).
The safest place for all children even through school-age, is in the back seat of the car.
Set a good example; make sure you and all other adults buckle up too!
Help children recognize traffic signs during a car ride.
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Activities
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Sample Activities
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Dramatic Play Area:
Do a skit about how to behave during a road trip.
Art Area:
Make a tag board stop sign. Discuss the color, and shape of the
stop sign. Explain that it tells drivers and walkers to stop and let
other cars and people go safely.
Have children walk march, clap, flap their arms, drive toy cars or
pull wagons. Use the stop sign to regulate traffic.
Block Area:
Create model size bus with blocks and carton boxes, and role play
getting in and out of the bus.
Make streets and bridges and include traffic signs.
Design a danger zone.
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Sample Activities
4. Outline an area on the floor or ground outside designated as the
"road." Use the masking tape or traffic cones to make lanes and
intersections. Place stop signs near any intersections. For a
beginner, it may be best to set up the traffic area outside where
there is more room for moving.
 Invite the child to go for a drive with you.
 While acting as the traffic cop overseeing the roads, have child
ride his tricycle around the room or outdoor space. Explain that he
must stay within the road and stop at the stop signs.
 Allow plenty of room for him to practice pedaling, stopping, and
turning.
 Explain what each obstacle means and why he needs to pay
attention. The lines of cones show us where the road is.
 Offer encouragement as he practices his growing skills.
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Sample Activities
5. Draw a poster with numbered and illustrated safety rules:
Always hold the handrail or an adult's hand.
Watch out for people walking up and down the stairs.
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Play away from the stairs.
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Place the poster on the wall near the stairs.
Invite child to read the poster with you.
Next, ask child to climb the stairs with you. As you climb
together, recall each step on the poster.
When you get to the top, offer encouragement and talk about the
child's progress; _______, you climbed all the way to the top!
Let's try together to go back down the stairs.
At the bottom, review the safety poster again.
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Children with Disabilities
Effective January 18, 2006, each agency must ensure that there are
school buses or allowable alternate vehicles adapted or designed
for transportation of children with disabilities available as necessary
to transport such children enrolled in the program.
This requirement does not apply to the transportation of children
receiving home-based services unless school buses or allowable
alternate vehicles are used to transport the other children served
under the home-based option by the grantee.
Whenever possible, children with disabilities must be transported in
the same vehicles used to transport other children enrolled in the
Head Start or Early Head Start program.
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Children with Disabilities
Each agency must specify any special
transportation requirements for a child with a
disability when preparing the child’s individual
education plan (IEP) or individual family
service plan (IFSP) , and ensure that in all
cases special transportation requirements in a
child’s IEP or IFSP are followed including:
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Special pick-up and drop-off requirements
Special seating requirements;
Special equipment needs;
Any special assistance that may be required;
and any special training for bus drivers and
monitors.
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Resources:
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Head Start Performance Standards
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DCFS Standards
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Department of Transportation
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School Bus Safety Resource Guide from Ontario
Ministry of Transportation
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American Academy of Pediatrics
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Creative Curriculum
For more information, call your
Support Services Coordinators/Education
(312) 743-0300
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