SCHOOL BUS RULES & SAFETY GUIDELINES

So many thing going on at the Piscataway Township Schools….

School buses are picking up their passengers, kids on bikes are hurrying to get to school before the bell rings, and harried parents are trying to drop their kids off before work. It's never more important for drivers to slow down and pay attention than when kids are present – especially before and after school. There’s not one tool we can use to make it safe for all our students but together as a hard-working community we can make sure we are on alert.

• Please don’t text and drive.
• Make extra time for travel.
• Last but not least, don’t pass school bus stop signs and red lights.

Getting "our" children to school safely is our number one concern. In order to ensure the safety of all children we expect all students to behave appropriately at ALL times-remember bus transportation is a privilege.

It only takes a few minutes to review these bus safety tips with your children. Please make the time for the safety of all our children.

 

Student Discipline on Bus

The bus driver is responsible for order and behavior on the school bus. All behavior problems will be immediately reported to the Principal and Transportation Department. Depending on the infraction, disciplinary measures will be taken including, but not limited to, the following: a verbal/written warning, parent conference, bus privileges being suspended (one, five, thirty-day, or indefinite suspensions). During this period, the student’s parent/guardian is liable and shall provide transportation to/from School. 

 

**Prior to the opening of school, students are assigned to a specific bus and a specific bus stop. Bus passes are mailed to all eligible students, indicating route, stop, and time. Adult family members are encouraged to remind children of all rules and regulations.

 

All students should know the following School Bus Rules and Safety Guidelines:

• Be at your designated stop 10 minutes prior to bus arrival.

• Never stand and or play in the roadway while waiting for the bus. When possible stand on the sidewalk!

• Behave in a courteous manner while waiting -- be considerate of others property.

• Walk facing the traffic-the school bus has many "blind spots". Do not attempt to come up from behind; chances are the driver will not see you.

• Stay in the "SAFE ZONE" ---ten feet in front of the bus. Never cross behind the bus.

• Wait until the bus comes to a complete stop before entering (you should be at least 3 GIANT steps from the curb to allow the driver to pull the bus up to the curb) or leaving.

• Always remain seated, facing forward with a seat-belt on.

• No eating or drinking.

• No student will be permitted to ride on any bus other than the one to which he/she is assigned, unless approved by the Principal and the Transportation Department.

• Late buses are solely for active bus students who stay for extra curricular activities/athletics. These students must have a valid AM/PM bus pass, their pass from the advisor/coach, and use only existing stops on existing activity routes. Please note: any student retained for detention purposes may not use the late bus.

• Keep conversations at a "normal’ volume, with no vulgar language or gestures to the driver, other passengers, or passersby. This is a serious safety issue; any distraction to the driver may result in an accident.

• In an emergency, remain seated and wait for instructions from the driver.

• Keep all body parts inside the vehicle at all times.

• The bus driver reserves the right to assign seats and to grant permission to open windows. (A good rule of thumb -- you open it you close it.)

• Musical instruments, sporting equipment, school projects, etc. are not permitted on the bus unless the student can carry the object safely on his/her lap. Click here for additional information.

• No smoking.

• Defacing property or otherwise damaging the bus is not permitted. Charges will be made for any damage, and bus privilege may be revoked.

• No pets.

• The District/contractor is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged property.

THE DISTRICT MAY USE VIDEOTAPING SYSTEMS ON ALL VEHICLES TO MONITOR STUDENT ACTIVITY.

 

SCHOOL BUS SAFETY REPORT

This report was written by the National Association of Elementary School Principals.

Getting children to and from school safely each day is serious business. Every year, thousands of children are injured in school bus-related accidents. Many of these accidents can be prevented if children know and follow these rules for bus safety:

Rushing Roulette:

When children are late for the bus, they concentrate more on getting aboard than on safety. Too often, accidents result. Set your morning routine so that your child arrives at the bus stop at least ten minutes before the bus is due.

 

Stay in the safe zone:

Bus drivers have blind spots because of bus design and many children have been injured because the bus driver simply did not see them. Tell your children to always stay in the "safe zone" of at least ten feet in front of the bus.

 

Save the horseplay:

Bus stops are not playgrounds. Goofing around while waiting for the bus, especially if the play extends into the street can be deadly. Make sure your children understand the danger.

 

One at a time:

Every child wants to get a "good" seat, but it is important for children to take their time entering the bus, lining up in a single file and not trying to push their way through a swarm.

 

No distractions:

Children may think that bus rules (no shouting, no throwing things, no horseplay) are just to keep them in line, but there are serious safety issues involved. They should understand the importance of never distracting the bus driver.

 

Stay put:

Children are so eager to leave the bus that they often start for the front before the bus has stopped. Let them know that they should wait until the bus comes to a complete stop before leaving their seats.

 

Cut the ties:

Clothing with drawstrings can be a real danger because loose strings can get caught on bus handrails. To be safe, remove drawstrings from your children’s jackets and look for backpacks that do not have drawstrings.

 

Heads up:

A dropped book can turn into a serious accident if the bus driver does not see it. Tell your children to let the bus driver know immediately if they drop something while getting on or off the bus.

 

The inside story:

Figure out the safest route to and from the bus stop and walk it with your children a few more times. Make sure they cross streets only at crosswalks or corners, never darting out between parked cars, and that they always look both ways before crossing.

 

The District reserves the right to add, delete or modify bus rules/safety guidelines at any time.