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Safety and Student Conduct

The National Academy of Sciences, the U.S. Department of Transportation and other authorities agree that school buses are the safest form of transportation for getting children to and from school.   

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, a child is 8 times safer in a school bus than when riding in a parent's vehicle. Some 475,000 school buses carry 26 million children each day, rarely with any serious accident.

Safety features of school buses include:

  • The color and size of school buses make them easily visible and identifiable.
  • The height of school buses provides good driver visibility and raises the passenger compartment above car impact height.
  • School bus construction includes reinforced sides to protect passengers from side impacts.
  • School bus lights provide a distinctive warning to alert other motorists to the presence of a school bus stop.
  • School buses are designed using what is called "passive restraint."  Each seat has reinforced frames, high backs, and at least 4” of protective foam front and back.

When the school bus arrives, your child should wait until the bus comes to a complete stop, the door opens, and the driver says it is okay before moving toward the door.   

School Bus Safety Tips  

  • Don't talk to strangers.
  • Wait for the Driver's signal before crossing the street.
  • Get to the bus stop 5 minutes before the scheduled stop time.
  • Cross in front of the bus, never behind.
  • The danger zone is 10 feet in front and behind the bus.
  • Be alert.

Student Conduct on the School Bus

The Tigard-Tualatin School District is committed to providing a safe environment for students on the school bus.  The rules listed below help ensure that the bus remains a safe place for students.  Students who fail to follow these rules and disrupt the safe operation of the school bus may lose their privilege to ride.

Oregon Administrative Rule 581-053-0010 State Guidance

Rules Governing Pupils Riding School Buses and School Activity Vehicles

  1. Pupils being transported are under the authority of the bus driver.
  2. Fighting, wrestling, or boisterous activity is prohibited on the bus.
  3. Pupils shall use the emergency exit only in case of emergency.
  4. Pupils shall use the emergency exit only in case of emergency.
  5. Pupils shall be on time for the bus both morning and evening.
  6. Pupils shall not bring firearms, weapons, or other potentially hazardous material on the bus.
  7. Pupils shall remain seated while the bus is in motion.
  8. Pupils may be assigned seats by the bus driver.
  9. When necessary to cross the road, pupils shall cross in front of the bus or as instructed by the bus driver.
  10. Pupils shall not extend their hands, arms or body parts through the bus windows.
  11. Pupils shall have written permission to leave the bus other than at home or school.
  12. Pupils shall converse in normal tones; loud or vulgar language is prohibited.
  13. Pupils shall not open or close windows without permission of driver.
  14. Pupils shall keep the bus clean, and must refrain from damaging it.
  15. Pupils shall be courteous to the driver, to fellow pupils, and passersby.
  16. Pupils who refuse to promptly obey the directions of the driver or refuse to obey regulations may forfeit their privilege to ride the bus.
  17. Rules Governing Pupils Riding School Buses and School Activity Vehicles must be kept posted in a conspicuous place in all school buses, type 20, and type 21 activity vehicles.