This is National School Bus Safety Week and while classes have been in session for seven weeks locally, it’s never too late to remind both students and parents how vitally important it is to make safe traveling to and from school a top priority.

After all, a great many youngsters must ride the bus to get to school, especially considering how expansive many Upper Peninsula districts are. And as the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration points out, the greatest risk for youngsters is not the riding portion of their school day but in getting on the bus when leaving for school or off of it when arriving at home.

The NHTSA terms the 10 feet in front, behind and on each side of the school bus a “danger zone” in which children should be especially cautious.

The NHTSA offers these suggestions about what to teach kids about school bus safety:

– Wait until the driver says it is safe to board. Then get on board one at a time.

– Once you’ve gotten off the bus, walk five giant steps from the front of the bus, cross in front of the bus when the driver indicates it’s safe, stop at the edge of the bus. Look left. Look right. Look left again for traffic then if there is no traffic, cross the street.

– Ask the driver for help if you drop something while getting on or off the bus.

– Keep loose items inside your book bag or back pack.

– Once on the school bus, go directly to your seat and sit down facing forward. Remain in your seat facing forward when the bus is moving.

– Be respectful of the school bus driver and always obey his or her instructions.

For parents and other adults, the NHTSA offers this advice:

– Tell your children to use the handrails when they get on and off the bus.

– Make your child aware of drawstrings on their clothes and straps on their backpack or book bag that could get caught in handrails or doors.

– When driving in neighborhoods and school zones, watch out for young people who may be distracted and not thinking about safety.

– SLOW DOWN. Watch for children playing and congregating near school bus stops.

– Be alert as children arriving late for the school bus may dart into the street without looking for traffic.

For more on the topic, visit nhtsa.gov.

Here in the U.P., children travel on buses to and from school in adverse weather conditions for much of the year. But the greatest danger remains the driver of the other vehicles out on the road, those who don’t pay enough attention around these most important modes of transportation.

Let’s make every week one of school bus awareness and keep our young people safe.