The students | The parents/guardians | The school bus driver | The school

Code of Practice - The students

Students agree to:

• be at the pick-up point before the bus is scheduled to arrive and wait for the bus on the pavement well back from the road. The bus will depart at the scheduled time.
• make sure they have their boarding pass ready for the bus driver.
• wait until the bus has stopped before trying to get on or off.
• wait until the bus has moved off before crossing the street.
• allow younger or smaller passengers to get off the bus first when it arrives at school.
• sit in their allotted seat and fasten their seat belt quickly.
• stay in their seat with their seat belt fastened all the time that the bus is moving.
• ensure drivers can drive the bus safely without having their attention distracted by students.
• never smoke on the bus and do not eat or drink on board.
• act in a way which is not dangerous to themselves or anyone else. Students on school buses and other road users have been killed or seriously injured as a result of students opening doors or throwing things while the bus is in motion.
• treat the driver with respect and follow his/her instructions. Remember that drivers are people with families and children of their own.
• ensure that litter is not thrown around or left on the bus.
• have consideration for other passengers and be careful not to use language which may be offensive.
• remember that if a student's behaviour is unacceptable to the driver or other students or is endangering other people the driver can legally insist the student leaves the bus and can ask the police to enforce this.
• behave appropriately. Persistent bad behaviour will lead to a student being permanently excluded from the school bus service.
• take care of the bus. Causing damage to the bus will result in the student or his/her parents/guardians having to pay the bus company for the cost of repairs and that if the bus company reports the damage to the Police it could lead to a prosecution.
• report any dangerous behaviour by other students to their driver, parents/guardian or teachers. Remember that serious misbehaviour could lead to the bus company withdrawing the service because it cannot be operated safely.