Whether you're on your way to soccer practice, your
aunt's house, or the science center for a school field trip,
you're probably getting there by riding in a car or a school
bus. Most kids spend some time in a car or a school bus every
day.
Cars and buses can be great because they're faster than
biking
, walking, or skateboarding. You'd be pretty late to practice
if you didn't get a ride, and it would be hard to get to that
soccer game in the next town without a school bus!
But riding in cars or school buses comes with some
responsibility: You need to ride safely. Luckily, it's not hard
to do. Keep reading and you'll learn the rules of car and bus
safety.
Seat Belt Basics
Whenever you ride in a car,
wear your seat belt every time.
No matter how short the trip is - even if it's only around the
corner - you still need to buckle up. This is so important because
if the car you're riding in gets into an accident, the seat
belt restrains you. (Restrain is a fancy word for holding you
back.) Even if the car is moving slowly, you can still get thrown
around if you're not wearing your seat belt.
When you get into a car, always
buckle up right away
. This means locking both the lap and shoulder belts. Some cars
have a shoulder belt that comes across your body by itself when the
car door shuts, but the lap belt still needs to be locked in place
by hand. Other cars have a lap and shoulder belt that are connected
as one piece, and the whole thing needs to be locked by hand.
Older cars might have two separate belts or no shoulder belt,
but just a lap belt. Whichever kind of seat belt you come across,
the directions are the same: Buckle every belt.
If you're wearing a seat belt correctly:
- the
lap
(lower) part of the belt should be sitting low and tight across
the upper part of your hips. It should
never
go across the upper half of your belly.
- the
shoulder
part of the seat belt should fit snugly across your chest and
shoulder, not under your arm or across your neck or face.
Sometimes seat belts need to be adjusted to fit a kid correctly,
so ask an adult to make sure your seat belt fits right.
Riding in a friend's or relative's car is no excuse to
skip the seat belt. Even if your friend or friend's parents
don't wear seat belts, always wear yours. And don't ever
share a seat belt with a friend - it might look like fun to buckle
up as a pair, but you could both get hurt in an accident.
Booster Seats
If you're a kid 8 years or under, you also need a booster
seat. Booster seats help you sit up high enough so the shoulder
part of seat belt fits properly across your chest.
Any kid who weighs between 40 pounds (18.1 kilograms) and 80
pounds (36.3 kilograms) should be in a booster seat. Kids should
continue using the booster seat until they are 4 feet, 9 inches
tall (1.4 meters) and weigh at least 80 pounds (36.3 kilograms).
Once kids reach that height and weight, they can safely ride in a
car with just the seat belt. So check with your parent to make sure
you're big enough to ride safely without a booster!
Get in the Back
Here's another important safety rule: sit in the back seat.
Kids 12 years old and under need to be sitting in the back. Period.
It's simply the safest place to be. If the car you're
riding in gets into an accident, you have much less chance of
hitting something hard like the windshield if you're in the
back.
If you're in the back seat with friends or brothers and
sisters, everyone needs to keep their seat belts on and not horse
around. It can be hard for the driver to concentrate on driving and
see what's going on outside the car if you're jumping
around back there. Short story: It can be dangerous and everyone
could get hurt.
What About Air Bags?
You might know a little bit about air bags because many car
commercials on TV talk about them. If a car with air bags is in a
front-end accident, the bags burst out of the steering wheel and
dashboard and - whoosh! - blow up like big balloons. This happens
very quickly - in the blink of an eye. Air bags cushion passengers
during an accident to keep them from hitting the dashboard or
windshield.
But even though the bags have saved many adults' lives, kids
12 years and under should
never
sit in the front seat of a car that has air bags. That's
because air bags are made to protect a bigger person's body,
and when they open they can hurt kids.
But what if you're going to ride in someone else's car
and you're asked to sit in the front seat? First, make sure the
adult driver knows the rule: No one age 12 or under in the front.
If you have no choice but to sit in the front, follow safety rule
#1: Wear your seat belt!
Air bags do not - and should not - take the place of seat belts.
Have an adult help you push your seat all the way back so
you'll be as far away from the air bag as possible. And keep
your back against the seat - don't lean forward or wiggle
around.
Busing It
The school bus is a little different from a car because in
addition to being a careful passenger, you need to think about how
to get on and off the bus safely. Whether you ride the bus to
school every day or just to field trips or band concerts once in a
while, it's important to follow these rules.
When you see the bus driving up, everyone waiting should get
into a line. The line should start about five giant steps (or
around 10 feet, or 3 meters) from the curb and go back from the
street, rather than down the side of the street.
Wait until the bus stops and the driver opens the door and
says it's OK to step onto the bus. This is important! The
driver is the only one who can really see all the traffic out on
the road and make sure that it's safe for you to get on the
bus. (If you must cross the street to board the bus, be sure to
wait for the bus to come to a complete stop and for the driver to
flash the red lights.)
Once aboard, be sure to listen to the driver's instructions,
and even if you're in a hurry to grab a seat with your friends,
don't rush and push.
Rules for Bus Safety
As with riding in a car, the best thing to do on the bus is
buckle up (if the bus has seat belts). That's because it's
just as important to be restrained when you're on the bus. If
the bus is in an accident, the seat belt will keep you from
bouncing all over the place. And play it cool when you're on
the bus: No jumping, running around, or throwing things. This can
make it hard for the driver to concentrate, and kids might get
hurt.
So, a short bus ride later, you arrive at your band concert and
you can't wait to blow that tuba! Not so fast - you have to pay
attention as you're getting off the bus, too. When you step
down, hold onto the handrail and be careful that your
backpack
or book bag doesn't get caught on the rail or in the door.
After you exit the bus, never walk behind it. If you have to
walk in front of the bus, walk on the sidewalk next to the bus for
at least 10 feet (3 meters), make sure that the driver sees you,
then cross. If you drop something as you cross the street,
don't ever bend down to pick it up - the bus driver might not
see you. Instead, tell the driver you dropped something.
See how easy it is to be a safe passenger? Following these
simple rules means you'll be more protected during a car or bus
trip - and have more fun! So pack your bag, buckle up, and get on
the road!
Reviewed by:
Mary L. Gavin, MD
Date reviewed: April 2007
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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