TRANSPORTATION AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY

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TRANSPORTATION AND PEDESTRIANSAFETY
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Important Information for Agencies
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Transportation Requirements1310.10 General

• When an agency provides transportation through
  another organization or an individual, the agency
  must ensure the compliance of the transportation
  provider with these requirements
• (d) Each vehicle used in providing transportation
  services is equipped with
• 1. A communication system to call for assistance
  in case of an emergency.
• 2. Safety equipment for use in an emergency,
  including a charged fire extinguisher that is
  properly mounted near the drivers seat and a
  sign indicating its location.

• 3. A first aid kit and a sign indicating the
  location of such equipment.
• 4. A seat belt cutter for use in an emergency
  evacuation and a sign indicating its location.
• 5. Height and weight appropriate safety belts for
  all children.
• 6. A reverse beeper.
• Agencies must ensure that there is a prescribed
  procedure for examining the vehicle at the time
  of arrival to ensure that they are equipped in
  accordance with the specifications.

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Driver Qualifications

• When signing a contract with a bus company
  requiring the services of a transportation
  company, you not only have the right to request
  that the company provides you with a bus that
  meets all requirements, but also you want to
  ensure that the drivers that will provide
  services to your agency have received the
  required training. Inquire about the drivers
  driving record and bus monitor training to ensure
  bus drivers have behind-the wheel instruction
  sufficient to enable them to
• Operate the vehicle in a safe and efficient
  manner
• Safely run a fixed route, load and unload
  children and performing specialized driving
  maneuvers
• Administer basic first aid in case of injury
• Handle emergency situations, including emergency
  evacuation procedures
• Operate any special equipment, such as wheelchair
  lifts, assistance devices or special occupant
  restraints
• Conduct routine maintenance and safety checks of
  the vehicle
• Provide transportation services for children with
  disabilities

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Trip Routing Special Requirements

• Each agency must ensure that in planning routes,
  the safety of the children being transported is
  the primary consideration.
• The time a child is in transit to and from the
  program must not exceed one hour unless there is
  no shorter route available or any alternative
  shorter route is either unsafe or impractical.
• Each agency must ensure that children are only
  released to a parent or legal guardian, or other
  individual in writing by the parent or legal
  guardian.
• Agencies must maintain lists of the persons,
  including alternates in case of emergency, and
  up-to-date child rosters must be maintained at
  all times to ensure that no child is left behind,
  either in the classroom or on the vehicle at the
  end of the route.

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Safety Education Important Information for
Teachers

• Each agency must provide training for parents
  and children in pedestrian safety.
• The training provided to children must be
  developmentally appropriate and an integral part
  of the program experiences.
• The required transportation and pedestrian
  safety education of children and parents must be
  provided within the first thirty days of the
  program year.
• Training on transportation and pedestrian
  safety, in addition to evacuation drills, should
  occur prior to children going on field trips

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Training for Children Parents Content Each
agency must ensure that children and parents who
receive such services are taught

• Children
• Safe riding practices
• Safety procedures for boarding and leaving the
  vehicle
• Safety procedures in crossing the street to and
  from the vehicle at stops
• Emergency evacuation procedures, including
  participating in an emergency evacuation drill
  conducted on the vehicle the child will be riding.

• Parents
• Emphasize the importance of escorting their
  children to the vehicle stop and the importance
  of reinforcing the training provided to children
  regarding vehicle safety.
• Complement the training provided to their
  children so that safety practices can be
  reinforced both in Head Start and at home by the
  parent.

Each agency must ensure that at least two bus
evacuation drills are conducted during the
program year.
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Pedestrian Safety Classroom Implementation

• Teachers need to develop appropriate lesson plans
  around safety.
• Teachers should include books regarding
  transportation safety.
• Teachers need to do role playing activities
  related to field trips including safe boarding
  and exit practices.
• Teachers must assist children in recognizing
  danger zones and signs.
• Teachers should have children participate in
  emergency drills conducted on the vehicle that
  the children will be riding.
• Teachers (and parents) must be aware of any
  dangerous area, such a high traffic road,
  construction work or gang related activity to
  avoid taking children on a walk around that area.
  

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Safety Tips for Pedestrians (for Children
Parents)

• The best way to avoid accidents is to be prepared
  
• and be aware of vehicles around you.
• Walk on sidewalks If sidewalks are not
  available, walk on the edge of the road or on the
  left shoulder of the road, facing the traffic
  flow. Use pedestrian bridges when they are
  available.
• Cross at marked crosswalks or intersections.
  Pedestrians are most often hit by cars when they
  cross the road at places other than
  intersections.
• Look left, right, and left for traffic. Stop at
  the curb and look left, right, and left again for
  traffic. Stopping at the curb signals drivers
  that you intend to cross.
• Always obey traffic signals at intersections
  where traffic is controlled by signals or traffic
  officer, do not cross against the stop signal
  unless directed by an officer or crossing guard.

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Safety Tips for Pedestrians (for Children
Parents)

• See and be seen Drivers need to see you to avoid
  you.
• Stay out of drivers blind spot. (Explain blind
  spot to children).
• Make eye contact with drivers when crossing busy
  streets.
• Wear bright colors or reflective clothing if you
  are walking near traffic at night.
• Carry a flashlight when walking in the dark.
• Do not let children play near traffic or cross
  the streets by themselves.
• Be aware of the effects of prescription and
  non-prescription medications, drugs and alcohol
  have on your judgment and motor skills. Take the
  bus, cab, or ask a friend for a ride, but do not
  walk or drive.

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Safety Procedures for Crossing the Street

• Children should be able to recognize and know
  the importance of safe practices when crossing
  the street, such as traffic signs, lights and
  sounds.
• Children should stop at the curb, then look to
  the left, to the right, and back to the left
  again.
• Teach children never to cross the street without
  a grown-up.

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Safety Procedures for Boarding and Leaving the
Vehicle for Children

• Walking to the Bus Stop
• Always walk on the sidewalk to the bus stop,
  never run. If there is no sidewalk, walk on the
  left facing traffic.
• Go to the bus stop about five minutes before the
  bus is scheduled to arrive. While at the bus
  stop, wait quietly in a safe place well away from
  the road. Do not run and play while waiting.
• Getting On and Off the Bus
• Enter the bus in line. Hold handrail while going
  up and down the stairs.
• When entering the bus, go directly to the seat,
  Remain seated and face forward during the entire
  ride.
• Buckle up right away. Wear your seat belt every
  time, no matter how short the trip is.
• Riding the Bus
• Always speak quietly on the bus so the driver
  will not be distracted. Always be silent when a
  bus comes to a railroad crossing so the driver
  can hear if a train is coming.
• Never throw things on the bus or out the windows.
  Keep the aisles clear at all times. Feet should
  be directly in front of you on the floor and book
  bags should be kept under your seat or in a
  designated area. Large equipment should not block
  the aisle or emergency exits.

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Safety Procedures for Boarding and Leaving the
Vehicle cont

• Never play with the emergency exits. If there is
  an emergency, listen to the driver and follow
  instructions.
• Hands should be kept to yourself at all times
  while riding on the bus. Fighting and picking on
  others creates a dangerous bus ride.
• Exiting the Bus
• If you leave something on the bus, never return
  to the bus to get it. The driver may not see you
  come back and he/she may begin to moving the bus.
  Make sure that loose objects such as shoe laces
  or drawstrings are secure before getting off the
  bus so that they do not get caught on the
  handrail or door.
• Respect the Danger Zone that surrounds all
  sides of the bus. The Danger Zone of the bus is
  ten feet wide on all sides of the bus. Always
  remain 10 steps away from the bus to be out of
  the danger zone and where the driver can see you.
• Always cross the street in front of the bus.
  Never go behind the bus. If you drop something
  near the bus, tell the bus driver before you
  attempt to pick it up.

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Safety Riding Practices

• Pre-trip and post-trip inspections should be
  conducted by
  driver and staff to ensure children are not left
  behind.
• Baggage an other items are properly stored and
  secured aisles doors cleared emergency exits
  are unobstructed at all times.
• All vehicles occupants must be seated and wearing
  height and weight appropriate safety restraints
  while bus is in motion, except for
  staff/volunteers that are assisting children.
• Teachers must conduct emergency drills in the
  same vehicle.
• Teachers must provide children with safety
  training prior to a field trip or walk through
  the community.

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Recognition of the Danger Zones around the
vehiclesThe Danger Zone of the vehicle is ten
feet wide on all sides of the bus.

• Tips for children
• Respect the Danger Zone which surrounds all
  sides of the bus.
• Always remain ten steps away from the bus to be
  out of the Danger Zone
• Always cross the street in front of the bus.
  Never go behind the bus.

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Safety for Parents

• In addition to discussing the same safety
  procedures for crossing the street, boarding a
  vehicle, riding and leaving a vehicle, emphasize
  to parents the importance of the following
• Never let your child play near the street. Your
  child may dart out into traffic without thinking.
  The park playground is the best place to play.
• Teach your child safe street habits. Teach your
  child to stop at the curb, then look to the left,
  to the right, and back to the left again. Teach
  your child never to cross the street without a
  grown-up.
• Your child should use a booster seat until the
  belt can be worn low and flat on the hips and
  shoulder belt can be worn across the shoulders
  rather than the face or neck (usually at about 80
  pounds and 4 feet 9 inches tall).
• The safest place for all children even through
  school-age, is in the back seat of the car.
• Set a good example make sure you and all other
  adults buckle up too!
• Help children recognize traffic signs during a
  car ride.

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Activities
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Sample Activities

• Dramatic Play Area
• Do a skit about how to behave during a road trip.
• Art Area
• Make a tag board stop sign. Discuss the color,
  and shape of the stop sign. Explain that it tells
  drivers and walkers to stop and let other cars
  and people go safely.
• Have children walk march, clap, flap their arms,
  drive toy cars or pull wagons. Use the stop sign
  to regulate traffic.
• Block Area
• Create model size bus with blocks and carton
  boxes, and role play getting in and out of the
  bus.
• Make streets and bridges and include traffic
  signs.
• Design a danger zone.

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Sample Activities

• 4. Outline an area on the floor or ground outside
  designated as the "road." Use the masking tape or
  traffic cones to make lanes and intersections.
  Place stop signs near any intersections. For a
  beginner, it may be best to set up the traffic
  area outside where there is more room for moving.
  
• Invite the child to go for a drive with you.
• While acting as the traffic cop overseeing the
  roads, have child ride his tricycle around the
  room or outdoor space. Explain that he must stay
  within the road and stop at the stop signs.
• Allow plenty of room for him to practice
  pedaling, stopping, and turning.
• Explain what each obstacle means and why he needs
  to pay attention. The lines of cones show us
  where the road is.
• Offer encouragement as he practices his growing
  skills.

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Sample Activities

• Draw a poster with numbered and illustrated
  safety rules
• Always hold the handrail or an adult's hand.
• Watch out for people walking up and down the
  stairs.
• Play away from the stairs.
• Place the poster on the wall near the stairs.
• Invite child to read the poster with you.
• Next, ask child to climb the stairs with you. As
  you climb together, recall each step on the
  poster.
• When you get to the top, offer encouragement and
  talk about the child's progress _______, you
  climbed all the way to the top! Let's try
  together to go back down the stairs.
• At the bottom, review the safety poster again.

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Children with Disabilities

• Effective January 18, 2006, each agency must
  ensure that there are school buses or allowable
  alternate vehicles adapted or designed for
  transportation of children with disabilities
  available as necessary to transport such children
  enrolled in the program.
• This requirement does not apply to the
  transportation of children receiving home-based
  services unless school buses or allowable
  alternate vehicles are used to transport the
  other children served under the home-based option
  by the grantee.
• Whenever possible, children with disabilities
  must be transported in the same vehicles used to
  transport other children enrolled in the Head
  Start or Early Head Start program.

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Children with Disabilities

• Each agency must specify any special
  transportation requirements for a child with a
  disability when preparing the childs individual
  education plan (IEP) or individual family service
  plan (IFSP) , and ensure that in all cases
  special transportation requirements in a childs
  IEP or IFSP are followed including
• Special pick-up and drop-off requirements
• Special seating requirements
• Special equipment needs
• Any special assistance that may be required and
  any special training for bus drivers and monitors.

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Created by Sandra Gonzalez-Murray

• Resources
• Head Start Performance Standards
• DCFS Standards
• Department of Transportation
• School Bus Safety Resource Guide from
• Ontario Ministry of Transportation
• American Academy of Pediatrics
• Creative Curriculum
• For more information call your
• Support Services Coordinators/Education
• [phone]