Background
Pedestrian safety education must be provided to children and parents within the first thirty days of the program year (45 CFR 1310.21(a)). The practice of safety begins each day when children leave their homes with a parent to board their Head Start bus. It includes the bus stop and the environment through which children walk and wait for the bus. Safety undergirds the smooth transportation of children as they begin and end the program day.
Each Head Start agency must provide safety education whether transportation services are rendered directly or through a third party. (45 CFR 1310.21(b)). Children may learn these procedures during classroom activities and at home with parental involvement. In addition to emergency evacuation procedures, it is critical for children to learn and practice safety procedures on:
- safe riding practices
- boarding and leaving the vehicle
- crossing the street
- danger zones around the vehicle
Helping parents to reinforce safety procedures with their children can be introduced during a parent training (45 CFR 1310.21(c)). They can also practice vehicle safety as the family uses public transportation or their own vehicle. Their daily escorting of children to and from the bus stop is an important transition from the home to the program. Parents are important as the child learns to avoid danger in their environment.
In designing activities, each Head Start program must develop safety procedures that are developmentally appropriate and individualized (45 CFR 1310.21(e)). Bus Drivers and Bus Monitors need to make preparations and have time to be trained on helping children learn the procedures. Intentional care should be given to provide children with special needs a positive, safe and effective transportation experience.
A review of child-by-child needs should be completed in the training of the Bus Driver and Bus Monitor. Training activities can be sensitive to extenuating circumstances or special physical needs. For instance, when a child does not speak English or has to be lifted and carried to his/her seat. More likely, service equipment and specialized child restraint systems will necessitate handling that will require additional preparation and training. Each of these situations can be reviewed in actual training.
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Standard Practice
Bus Drivers and Bus Monitors are regarded with respect by parents and children who see their role as caretakers. Literally, every step a child takes is being observed while in their care. Children are given continuous guidance and support for safety procedures from the child’s bus stop to their return. Under this supervision, children develop positive attitudes and practices for safety procedures as a pedestrian and as a bus rider.
Parents have an equally strong role in helping to reinforce safety procedures with their children. Each day, a parent accompanies their child to the designated bus stop. In walking with the child, the parent can give sole attention to the child. This time can be a special start of the day. It is also a period in which the parent helps a child understand the potential danger from fast moving traffic and how to safely make their way through their surroundings.
The Head Start agency establishes the bus route and designated time for the pickup of a child (45 CFR 1310.20(b)(5)). Whenever possible, these stops should be set so that children are not required to cross the street to enter or exit their bus. Using a side street or service road next to a child’s home eliminates crossings and is the safest alternative. Consideration should also be given to the direction of traffic so that parents and children are walking facing oncoming traffic.
Parents should be provided safety education about waiting with a child at the bus stop. Children should not be allowed to play in the street or road as they may feel safe and ignore oncoming traffic. Likewise, in their excitement to see their bus, children may rush towards the oncoming bus. Parents need to help children learn how to wait. This also means observing the safe distance to stand from the street curb or side of the road. Only when the bus has come to a full stop and opened its door should a child approach the bus.
A child who is required to cross a street must be accompanied by either the Bus Monitor or another adult (45 CFR 1310.21(a)). This situation must be monitored by the Bus Driver as children and adults move around the front of the bus in crossing the street. Children need to learn how pedestrians cross using the walk signal when facing the green color of a traffic light. Both parents and Bus Monitors need to reinforce the meanings of the red, green, and yellow colors indicated on the traffic light to guide traffic through the intersections. Through seeing, listening, and looking, children develop their skills and begin to understand their environment.
The smooth transition from a parent to the top step inside the bus can be a trying experience for a child. The Bus Monitor should welcome children and guide the boarding process. This is important if more than one child is at the same bus stop. Children need to take their turn to board without pushing or shoving. Using the handrail will eliminate a child’s attempt to crawl up the stairs and limit a child’s movement to one step at a time. Care must also be taken to ensure loose clothing items, such as long drawstrings, do not get tangled in the handrail or bus door. A successful boarding can be the start of a successful day!
It is important to consider the developmental stage of children in boarding or exiting their bus. Some children may require additional assistance to keep their balance as they step onto the stairs. The Bus Monitor may have to hold one hand while the child’s other hand is on the handrail. It is also possible that the attention of children may shift and they decide to turn back to speak or return a toy to their parent. Keeping children focused and giving immediate guidance is important.
Children should know the danger zones around the bus. Bus Drivers have limitations of their vision through mirrors mounted on the vehicle. This means parents, and transportation staff must be strict about enforcing the danger zone. Children are never to walk or cross a street behind a bus. In addition, children should understand the danger of the wheels on both sides of the bus. This includes the underside of the bus that children may want to explore or reach for items that catch their eye. Stressing these danger areas at home and around the family car and with the school bus helps children learn to stay away from the danger zones.
Safe riding practices need to be observed by children once they are inside the bus. Children should find their seat and buckle up or wait to be buckled into their child restraint system. Talking among children should be kept at a level which allows the Bus Driver or Bus Monitor to be heard above the chatter. In some locations, drivers need to be able to hear if oncoming railroad trains are approaching a crossing. Remaining seated throughout the bus ride is very important for safe riding.
Upon arriving in their bus at the center location, children need to practice safety procedures as the whole group exits from the bus. A Bus Monitor needs to have sufficient time to unbuckle children and direct them to walk slowly towards the exit door. As in boarding, children need to exit one at a time. They need to use the handrail for balance when stepping off the bus. The Bus Driver may give additional assistance to children coming down the stairs.
When everyone has vacated the bus, the Bus Monitor escorts them to their classroom teacher. The Bus Driver has responsibilities related to the vehicle and the safe transportation of children. The daily inspection determines preventive equipment maintenance. This includes the interior and exterior of the bus and equally important the school bus sign, horns, brakes, and lights. A Bus Driver establishes a safe and direct bus route for children and chooses the correct travel lane to pick up and unload children. In emergencies, the Bus Driver implements safety procedures for unloading children to a safe spot away from the vehicle.
The Bus Driver and Bus Monitor share responsibility regarding the release of a child at the bus stop. If a parent is not present to receive their child, the Bus Driver must bring the child back to their center (45 CFR 1310.10(d)(4)(g)). The safety of the child follows the procedures that an agency follows to meet this requirement.
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Local Perspective
Each Head Start program must strive to give children good skills and attitudes for being safe riders and pedestrians. A child may challenge following directions and they may ignore their own safety to play in danger zones. Helping children learn about safety requires Bus Drivers, Bus Monitors, parents, and the classroom teacher to continually support safety procedures.
To teach these practices, each program can establish procedures that fit their community. In urban areas, procedures may be more detailed due to sidewalks, streets, congested traffic and the surrounding neighborhood environment. In a rural setting, accommodations may need to be made for highway traffic, local dirt or gravel roads, railroad crossings, and road conditions such as loose gravel or soft shoulders that become muddy after a rain. As needed, the program can mold their needs to meet the necessary federal requirements.
An agency can document the teaching of
safety procedures by including them in classroom activities and in
bus activities. Parent education materials may be developed for
safety procedures to be reviewed during parent meetings and home
visits. Letters to parents, detailing the current safety activity
being taught, can enlist their support to reinforce safety concepts
at home. As children are transported to community events and field
trips, both parents and children can also practice these safety
procedures.
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