Across the United States, more than 26 million students rely on 480,000 of those familiar yellow buses to get them to and from school safely every day. And it really is a safe way to travel: Less than 1% of traffic fatalities involve children on school buses. That’s partly because we teach kids how to behave on and around buses. National School Bus Safety Week is the perfect time to review those rules.
When is National School Bus Safety Week?
This event is held each year during the third full week of October. National School Bus Safety Week 2024 takes place from October 21-25. It is sponsored by the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT), an organization dedicated to getting children to and from school safely and efficiently.
During this week, schools and communities put a special emphasis on safe practices on the road. They can share messages on television, radio, social media, and other community spaces to remind drivers to follow all laws when they encounter buses on the road. Schools also review safety rules with students and parents. One highlight is the NAPT poster contest, with a new theme each year. Check out our list below for lots of ways to make this week special!
Activities and ideas for National School Bus Safety Week 2024
NAPT Poster Contest
This annual contest is a fun way to get all the students at your school involved. Hold a school-wide contest and then send the winners to the NAPT State Director. They will choose their favorites to submit as national finalists. Learn more about the NAPT Poster Contest here.
We are teachers
Play SAFE
Teach students this simple acronym for bus safety:
S:Stay at least 10 feet (five giant steps) away from the sidewalk while waiting.
TO:Always wait for the bus to come to a complete stop and for the driver to signal you that it is time to board.
F:Look forward once you are in your seat.
my:Exit the bus when it has come to a complete stop. Always cross in front of the bus once the driver tells you it is safe to do so.
Bus Safety Activity Book
This free printable booklet contains all kinds of activities for elementary school children. Print the entire book to give to students or use individual pages for classroom activities. Get the School Bus Safety Activity Book from the Mississippi Department of Education.
School Bus Safety Drill
Safety drills help prepare students for the very rare emergencies that may occur. Tip: Give all students the opportunity to participate in these drills, not just those who ride the bus to and from school. This way, they will be prepared for field trips or extracurricular events that use school bus transportation.
Beautification of the bus stop
Encourage communities to make their school bus stops more visible and fun. This is a fantastic community engagement project and would also be great for project-based learning.
Safety announcement on buses
There are many bus safety PSAs available on YouTube. For increased engagement, host a contest for students to create and submit their own ads. Share the winners on your social media channels!
Social media bombardment
Use this week to spread messages about the importance of bus safety for both children and drivers. Introduce your school bus drivers and passengers and urge everyone to make smart choices to ensure their safety on the road.
Driver Safety Education
Many parents pick up and drop off their children at school and often encounter school buses along the way. Take advantage of the captive audience in the pick-up and drop-off line by handing out brochures on the proper way to handle stopped school buses. Your state’s department of education or transportation likely has materials you can use.
Thank you to the bus driver
April is officially School Bus Driver Appreciation Day, but don’t wait until then to celebrate! Invite drivers to have lunch with students (a pizza party!) and get to know them better. Or offer them free donuts and coffee to get them started in the morning. Find more ideas for school bus driver appreciation here.
How are you celebrating National School Bus Safety Week? Come share your ideas in the We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook!
Plus, National Guardian Day is October 2nd. Here’s how to celebrate!
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