Bus Safety School: Travelling Safely by Bus

At our Bus Safety School, children learn how to travel safely by bus in an exciting and engaging way. Through practical exercises and easy-to-understand explanations, we teach them important rules for their journey to school and for using public transport safely. At the same time, parents gain an insight into what the course covers.

ESWE-Verkehr-Bus mit bunter Busschule-Beklebung und Comicfiguren auf einem Betriebshof.
Mercedes eCitaro single-deck bus with comic-style livery

What do the children learn?

1. Wait safely at the bus stop

Safety starts right at the bus stop:

  • Be calm rather than running about and playing
  • Keep at least one metre away from the kerb
  • Be aware of the ‘bus overhang’: the bus swings out to the side as it pulls in and out

Practical exercise:
The children experience first-hand, right next to the bus, why keeping a safe distance is important. A simple demonstration shows how far the bus can swing out when pulling away.

2. Boarding correctly and safely

Orderly boarding ensures greater safety and a quicker change of passengers.

The children learn:

  • To have their ticket ready before boarding, if possible
  • To put down their school bags or rucksacks before boarding
  • To be considerate of other passengers

Practical exercise:
The pupils compare a disorderly boarding process with an orderly one and realise that those who are prepared can board the bus more quickly and with greater ease.

3. Learning about safety features on the bus

The children learn about the safety features on the bus and how they work:

  • Emergency door release
  • Emergency hammer for use in an emergency
  • Anti-trap devices on the rear doors

It is explained that emergency equipment should only ever be used in genuine emergencies and, where possible, by adults.

4. Getting off safely and crossing the road

A key focus is on behaviour after getting off the bus.

The children learn:

  • Never to run across the road directly in front of a stationary bus
  • Why other road users often cannot see children behind a bus in time
  • The role played by reaction time and braking distance when a vehicle comes to a halt

Practical exercise:
Using a clear example, the children experience how difficult it can be for drivers to react in time if someone suddenly steps out from behind a bus.

5. Safety whilst travelling

There are also important rules to follow whilst travelling:

  • Find a seat or something to hold on to immediately after getting on
  • Do not run about or make a lot of noise on the bus
  • Do not distract the driver
  • Inform the driver in an emergency

Practical exercise: Emergency braking
A demonstration prop is used to show the forces that can come into play even when braking at low speed. This helps the children understand why holding on or sitting down is so important.

Our aim

The Bus Safety School helps children to recognise road hazards at an early stage and to behave safely on buses and at bus stops. By combining theory with practical exercises, the lessons learnt are retained in the long term and help to ensure a safe journey to school for everyone.

Safety starts with knowledge – and practice makes all the difference.

I’m a Bus Pro – The most important rules from bus safety school

After taking part in our bus safety course, the children receive this leaflet as a reminder of what they have learnt. It summarises, in a child-friendly way, the most important tips and rules for staying safe at the bus stop and on the bus. It also gives parents an overview of what was covered in the course.

Questions and answers for bus professionals – Test your knowledge!

Bus safety school