Your Students Are Our Priority

Newtown Public schools and All-Star, believe that a positive experience on the school bus contributes to a rewarding and successful day in the classroom. As partners in school transportation, we ensure drivers are well-prepared and confident, ready to handle any situation that may arise with students.

Know the Danger Zones

According to the NHTSA, the school bus "danger zones" are areas around the bus where students are at the highest risk of not being seen by the driver. These zones typically include the ten feet in front of the bus (where the driver's seat is too low to see a child), the ten feet on either side of the bus (within the driver’s blind spots), and the area directly behind the bus. To reduce the risks for students in these danger zones, recommended practices include:

  • Explane to your child what the Danger Zone is and the areas around the school bus.
  • Teach your children the proper street crossing procedures and safety precautions.
  • We ask that all backpacks, loose drawstrings, cords or straps be removed ortucked away.
  • Our drivers count how many students leave the bus and where they are before pulling away from the stop.
An aerial view of a school bus in danger zones

School Bus Safety Tips

Getting Ready for the School Day

  • Have your children put everything they carry in a backpack or school bag so that they won´t drop things along the way.
  • Have them wear bright, contrasting colors so they will be more easily seen by drivers.
  • Make sure they leave home on time, so they can walk to the bus stop and arrive 5 minutes before the bus is due. 

Walking to the Bus Stop

  • Walk your young child to the bus stop and have older children walk in groups. Groups are easier for drivers to see.
  • Practice good pedestrian behavior: walk on the sidewalk, if there is no sidewalk, stay out of the street.
  • If you must walk in the street, walk single file, face traffic and stay as close to the edge of the road as you can.
  • Stop and look left, right and then left again if you must cross the street. Do the same thing at driveways and alleys. 

Waiting at the Bus Stop

  • Don´t let your child play running games or push and shove at the bus stop. It is dangerous near traffic.
  • Make sure your child stands at least 10 feet (5 giant steps) from the road while waiting for the bus.

Getting On and Off the Bus

  • Warn children that, if they drop something, they should never pick it up. Instead, they should tell the driver and follow the driver´s instructions. If they bend over to pick up a dropped object, they might not be seen by the driver and could be hurt if the driver pulls away from the stop.
  • Remind children to look to the right before they step off the bus. Drivers in a hurry sometimes try to sneak by busses on the right.
  • Teach your children to secure loose drawstrings and other objects that may get caught in the handrail or door of the bus as they are exiting.
  • Follow your school´s procedures if you would like for the child to get off at a stop other than the one they are assigned. The driver isn´t allowed to let a child off at another stop without written permission.
  • If you meet your child at the bus stop after school, wait on the side where the child will be dropped off, not across the street. 

Riding the Bus

  • Children should talk quietly, be courteous to the driver and follow the driver´s instructions.
  • Children should stay seated during the entire bus ride and keep the aisles clear.