National School Bus Safety Week - post

It is National School Bus Safety Week!

This article summarizes practical steps early childhood professionals can take to reduce risk during arrivals, dismissals and field trips. For staff training that aligns with these topics, see our Transportation and Field Trip Safety Buy Now $25.00 course and the Basic Health & Safety and Breastfeeding Awareness Buy Now $35.00 course, both of which cover supervision, transport precautions, and prevention strategies critical to keeping children safe.

“Recognizing the critical importance of school bus operations in safely delivering students to in-person learning, Governor Larry Hogan issued a proclamation declaring School Bus Safety Week in Maryland, October 18-22. The proclamation celebrates school bus drivers, calling attention to their rigorous training, safety record, as well as their meticulous implementation of new safety practices and dedicated service during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Schools across the nation observe National School Bus Safety Week the third week of October. The 2021 October theme is “Be Safe – Know the Danger Zone.“

The danger zone is the space all around the school bus. It goes out 10 feet. The school bus driver cannot see the children in this zone, especially around the wheels. It is very dangerous to be in this area.

In addition to observing National School Bus Safety Week, the Department of Transportation adheres to rigorous safety standards for school buses. School buses are designed so that they’re highly visible and include safety features such as flashing red lights, cross-view mirrors, and stop-sign arms. They also include protective seating, high crush standards and rollover protection features.There are also laws in place that protect students who are getting off and on a school bus by making it illegal for drivers to pass a school bus while dropping off or picking up passengers, regardless of the direction of approach.

Students are encouraged to enter the National School Bus Safety Week Poster Contest for Next Year. The 21-2022 theme is: 1 Bus + 1 Driver = a BIG Impact on Education

Posters can be drawn anytime between August 16, 2021 – March 1, 2022

Thousands of school districts in over 40 states participate in local and state-level competitions to select artwork drawn by students that depicts school bus safety-related themes and encourage and promote school bus safety. 

What is the 'Danger Zone' around a school bus and why does it matter?

The 'Danger Zone' is the area extending approximately 10 feet all around a school bus where the driver has limited or no visibility of students, particularly near the wheels and immediately in front of the bus. Children in this zone are at highest risk because drivers may not see them during loading and unloading. Programs should teach the Danger Zone to children using concrete demonstrations and practice drills, and staff should use direct supervision and a designated adult to monitor curbside activity until every child is accounted for. Incorporate these tactics into arrival/dismissal protocols: 1) model safe routes for students to board and disembark; 2) position an adult where they can observe the curb and the bus door; and 3) require children to wait until the driver signals it is safe to cross. For procedural training on these steps and supervision strategies, schedule our Transportation Safety Buy Now $16.00 course and the Transportation and Field Trip Safety Buy Now $25.00 course.

How can child care programs plan safe arrivals and dismissals?

Arrivals and dismissals are high-risk transitions that require clear, rehearsed systems. A written procedure reduces variability and improves safety. A practical checklist includes:

1. Assign a staff member to a specific door or bus zone to supervise each group.
2. Use a consistent location for pick-up and drop-off and communicate it to families in writing (include a field-trip-style permission slip if transportation changes are expected).
3. Conduct a daily headcount when children enter and again when they leave; record changes immediately in attendance logs.
4. Train staff to enforce a ‘hands-off’ policy around wheels and to maintain sight-and-sound supervision until children are released to a known caregiver.
5. Practice bus stop procedures and crossing drills with school-age children periodically.

See our guidance on creating permission slips and parent communication in "How to Create a Daycare Field Trip Permission Slip" and program-level transportation safety in "How can child care programs keep children safe during transportation?" for templates and sample language you can adapt.

What should providers do when planning field trips that use buses?

Field trips extend program responsibility beyond the facility. Planning should include vetting transport vendors, checking liability and seat- restraint policies, verifying driver credentials and medical emergency plans, and ensuring adult-to-child ratios are appropriate for travel. Before the trip: collect emergency contact information, medications and health forms; perform a pre-trip safety briefing with children and staff; and assign adult mentors. During the trip: maintain paired or small-group supervision, run headcounts at each transition point, and keep a portable first-aid kit and emergency plan accessible. After the trip: debrief and document any incidents or near-misses to improve future procedures. For operational checklists and risk assessment tools, consult our articles on field-trip planning and the course "Transportation and Field Trip Safety Buy Now $25.00." Additional inspiration for trips that minimize transport risk is in "Best Daycare Field Trip Ideas in Virginia" and regional adaptations such as "Best Daycare Field Trip Ideas in California" and "Best Daycare Field Trip Ideas in Wisconsin."

What Maryland-specific rules and resources should providers follow?

Because this article references Maryland, providers should align with the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) Early Childhood Division guidance and state regulations. MSDE has recognized National School Bus Safety Week and provides resources for local programs (see the MSDE announcement already cited in references). Maryland providers can also rely on MSDE-approved training: our Basic Health & Safety and Breastfeeding Awareness Buy Now $35.00 course is MSDE-approved (approval number noted in the course description) and covers required safety topics, including precautions in transporting children. If your program contracts for student transport, check local licensing and school-district agreements to ensure compliance with state requirements and bus-driver training standards.

How can programs summarize and sustain school-bus safety practices?

Make safety operational by documenting arrival/dismissal procedures, training all staff annually on transport protocols, and running regular drills that include the bus driver when possible. Keep a short corrective-action log for issues that arise, and share highlights with families so they know what to expect. For practical templates to adapt, see "How to Create a Daycare Field Trip Permission Slip" and the planning pieces in "Summer Field Trips for Daycares in Texas" and "Summer Field Trips for Daycares in Illinois."

Summary: What are the immediate actions providers can take?

1) Teach the Danger Zone and practice sight-and-sound supervision. 2) Create and rehearse clear arrival/dismissal procedures. 3) Vet transport vendors and keep documented health and emergency plans for trips. 4) Register staff for state-approved trainings (see the linked childcareed courses). Implementing these steps reduces risk and improves consistent practice across staff teams. #safety #transportation #supervision #bus #children

If you are looking for more training in the area of safety consider the Basic Health and Safety Training and Breastfeeding Awareness Buy Now $35.00. This training covers all aspects of safety while working with children including indoor and outdoor environments, first aid, allergies and asthma, and transportation.

• Maryland State Department of Education. (2021, October 18). Maryland Recognizes National School Bus Safety Week October 18-22, 2021 [Press release]. https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/MDMSDE/2021/10/19/file_attachments/1970585/NationalSchoolBusSafetyWeek2021-101921.pdf
• Software, N. (2021). NAPT. Retrieved 21 October 2021, from https://www.napt.org/nsbsw