Virtual School Bus and Pedestrian Safety Day

Published: Thursday, 14 July 2022 08:50

Last Updated on: 14th July 2022, 10:26 am

student animal characters crossing the crosswalk and waiting for the bus

A virtual experience this year…

The School Bus and Pedestrian Safety Day will be a virtual experience, once again, this year! Parents, guardians and students will still be able to prepare for their bus ride to school by visiting OSTA’s safety webpage for online safety videos and materials! There are also online resources for students who walk to school on OSTA’s pedestrian safety webpage.

Did you know that school bus safety is EVERY bus rider’s responsibility?

To ensure your child understands how to take the bus safely, OSTA recommends that parents/guardians:

Review the School Bus Safety Brochure with their child online before school starts and regularly.
Help their child understand their role in keeping themselves and the other riders safe.
Practice proper bus-riding behaviour at home with their child.
You can help the bus driver get everyone to and from school safely, by merely following these bus safety rules!

There are also several bus safety videos we recommend:

Ministry of Ed School Bus Safety

Kindergarten – School Bus Safety with Buzzy the Bee

Grade 1-3 – School Bus Safety with Buster the Bus

Grade 4-8 – School Bus Safety for Junior Students

Find out more about Bus Safety here!

Pedestrian Safety Tips

Help keep your walk to school safe by following the pedestrian safety rules.

When planning to walk to school or anywhere, it’s important for you and your child to be prepared. Begin teaching pedestrian safety at a young age and continue to refresh their knowledge as they get older. When walking to school, know the potential dangers by familiarizing yourself with the route to school. Pick a route that is direct and avoids crossing too many streets. Always cross at designated areas; it’s important to teach your child to cross the street safely. OSTA has created multiple resources and tools like walking route maps, walk&roll maps and Walk-a-Block maps to help your child walk to school safely. Walk your route a few times before school starts so you can time it.

For more pedestrian safety tips, check out our pedestrian safety tips and resource page.

Find out more about Bus Safety here!

New Amber Warning Lights on School Buses

Effective July 1, 2022, school buses will be equipped with updated overhead amber signal lights on the back and front. Flashing overhead amber lights means that the bus is slowing down and is coming to a stop to pick up or drop off students. Students must wait until the bus has come to a complete stop before approaching the doors.

For drivers, when you see a school bus slowing down with its overhead amber signal lights flashing slow down and be prepared to stop. Once you see a school bus stopped with its overhead RED lights flashing you must stop.