Safe VehiclesSchool buses are designed specifically to protect students on and

off the bus with special safety features not available on any other vehicle

Safety features of school buses include: Color Size and height Reinforced sides Flashing red lights Cross view mirrors Crossing & stop sign arms

ReinforcedSides

Flashing Red lights

Cross viewMirrors

Size & Height

ReinforcedSides

Flashing Red lights

RearviewMirrors

Stop ArmSign

Crossing Gate

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According to the American School Bus Council, a yellow school bus is:

13 times safer than other modes of travel, including your family automobile, passenger trains, airplanes, transit buses or inter-city buses

Children driving to school or riding with teenage drivers are 44 times more likely to be fatally injured!

http://americanschoolbuscouncil.org/

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“THE DANGER ZONE” is the 10-15 foot area immediately around the school bus.

It’s especially dangerous because students can stand in places in which the driver of the bus cannot see.

The most DANGEROUS area is around the front of the bus and around the rear wheels

Students are to be instructed at least twice yearly about the DANGER ZONE!

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Elementary students (grades K-8) are entitled to transportation only if they live more than 2 miles from their designated school

High school students (grades 9-12) are entitled to transportation only if they live more than 3 miles from their designated school

Riding time shall not exceed 60 minutes for elementary students and 75 minutes for high school students, unless limit is waived by the parent

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Always obey the school bus driver

Stay seated at all timesKeep the noise level lowKeep your hands and feet to

yourselfKeep the bus cleanTreat your fellow riders the

same way that you like to be treated

Slow down when a school bus has the amber lights flashing

Not pass when following a school bus whenever any of the amber or red school bus lights are flashing

Whether following or meeting a school bus, other motorists should stop whenever the red lights flash or the stop arm is extended.

Though other motorists are supposed to slow down or stop when around a school bus, sometimes they don’t! Generally, other motorists are supposed to:

Again, these are the things that other motorists should do, but sometimes they don’t! Since sometimes they don’t, you should always:

Cross with care when crossing a streetWatch for the school bus driver to signal you to crossMake sure you can see the bus driver – because if you can’t see the

bus driver, the bus driver most likely cannot see you If you drop something near the school bus, alert the driver so the bus

doesn’t run over youNever chase the school busAnd remember the DANGER ZONE!

THIS is what it’s all about…………..Our most precious cargo – YOU!!

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Iowa Based Web Sites! IDOE (Department of Education) www.iowa.gov/educate IPTA www.4ipta.org Iowa State Patrol www.dps.state.ia.us Iowa Department of Public Health

www.idph.state.ia.us State of Iowa Official Website www.iowa.gov

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National Web Sites! NAPT - National Association of Pupil Transportation www.napt.org NASDPTS - National Association of State Directors of

Pupil Transportation Services - www.nasdpts.org School Bus Information Council www.schoolbusinfo.org School Bus Fleet Magazine www.schoolbusfleet.com School Transportation News www.stnonline.com American School Bus Council

www.americanschoolbuscouncil.org

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National School Bus Safety Week! Always the third full week of October

each year!

For more info, go to www.napt.org

Max ChristensenDepartment of Education515-281-4749 max.christensen@iowa.gov

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Dave KramerIowa Pupil Transportation Association515-247-4693dkramer@ia-sb.org