National School Bus Safety Week

KWRL Transportation invites you to celebrate 16 million miles of transporting area students in Clark and Cowlitz Counties with no “at-fault” injury accidents during National School Bus Safety Week from Monday, October 16, 2017 through Friday, October 20, 2017!

KWRL Transportation provides school transportation services to area school districts including Kalama, Woodland, Ridgefield, and La Center students.

In celebration of Nation School Bus Safety Week, KWRL provides school bus safety tips for students, staff members, and parents.

Getting Ready for School

• Wear bright colors at the bus stop to increase visibility for the school bus and other drivers.
• Leave your home and arrive your bus stop at least five minutes before the bus arrives so you’re not in a hurry or running to the stop. Running to the bus is dangerous.
• Leave large and loose objects at home. Only bring approved items that can be contained in your backpack and on your lap.

Walking to the Bus Stop

• Parents and family members should walk their student to the bus stop of encourage them to walk with others. There is safety in numbers.
• Always walk on the sidewalk and stay out of the street.
• Always look left and right before crossing a street or driveway.

At the Bus Stop

• Always have children wait at the approved bus stop location where the driver can see the while approaching the bus stop. Don’t wait for the school bus on a porch, in the house, or in a car.
• Stay on the sidewalk and respect personal property of home owners within the neighborhood.
• Rules for riding the school bus as well as classroom behavior extend to the bus stop, too. Be safe and respectful.

Getting On and Off the Bus

• Use bus handrails to slowly navigate the bus steps and look to your right before exiting the bus.
• Always wait for the driver to give the signal that it is safe to cross the street and remember to look both ways before you cross the street.
• If students drop something while getting off the bus, tell the bus driver and wait for instructions before going to pick up the item.

Mobile and Electronic Devices

Cell phones and electronic devices are only permitted on the school bus when:

• Stowed in backpacks or pockets as students board and exit the school bus to free the student’s hands to use handrails and focus attention on safety.
• Cell phone sound must be muted, device content must be appropriate, and content should not be shared with other students.
• Cell phone lights, camera flashes, and recording or photographing of other students are not permitted for any reason.
• Cell phones and other devices may not distract the driver in any way.

Kindergarten Parents and Teachers

• Parents or other family members must meet kindergarten students at the bus stop.
• Parents and teachers should ensure students’ backpacks have yellow Kindergarten ID tags on the left shoulder strap.
• Parents and teachers should encourage Kindergarten students to identify themselves as Kindergarten students to the bus driver every time they enter and exit the school bus.
• Kindergarten students must ride in the fronts seats approved for Kindergarten students.