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Since we’re in the auto insurance business, we’re obviously interested in promoting safe driving. That’s why we reward good drivers with auto insurance discounts. However, since we’re also moms, dads, and concerned drivers in our hometowns, we’re also generally interested in keeping our roads safe, especially as that relates to children.

Take a moment to find out some of the ways you can help us keep kids safe as they get on the bus and go to school. (Even if you don’t have kids, there are actually precautions you can take to help.)

Sharing the Road with Buses: Tips for All Drivers
Believe it or not, children are safer traveling in school buses than in any other type of motor vehicle. However, every year, school bus accidents happen because many drivers forget about some school bus safety basics.

Of the few fatalities that happen each year, most occur in the "danger zone,” the 10-foot area surrounding a bus where the bus driver and other drivers are unable to see children.

Because of this, most states have specific laws that require all vehicles to come to a halt when a school bus has its stop sign out and its red lights flashing. These signals indicate that children are getting on or off the bus. When you’re sharing the road with school buses, remember these rules:

• DO NOT pass a school bus until the red lights and signals are turned off.
• ALWAYS stop when traveling in the same direction as the bus.
• CHECK the law in your state regarding traveling in the opposite direction across a divided road. (Some states require that you stop then, too.)
• NEVER pass on the right side of the bus. Besides being illegal, this is where children enter and exit. Doing so can have tragic results.

Getting on the Bus: Tips for Parents & Kids
In addition to all the normal things you tell your kids about street safety, be sure to emphasize the following as it relates to school buses:

• Make sure your children get to the bus stop on time and teach them to stay away from the road while they wait.
• Reinforce general street safety and correct bus behavior. This includes teaching kids about the danger zone around buses, about looking both ways before crossing, and about asking the driver for help if anything’s dropped near buses.
• Ensure that your kids aren’t leaving the house with loose items hanging from their clothing. This especially applies to backpacks that can get caught on a handrail or in a bus door.
• Talk with the school or transportation director about getting a bus stop moved if you think it's in an unsafe location.

Safe Drivers Save Lives and Save on Their Auto Insurance
Because it's in our collective interest to promote safe driving, all of us here at Esurance hope to help you learn more about issues like school bus safety. You can learn even more about safe driving and other auto insurance-related issues by taking a look through more of our auto insurance learning center.

In addition to providing safety tips for you in our auto insurance learning center, we reward safe driving with auto insurance discounts for good drivers. See if you’re eligible for a good driver discount, or for our other auto insurance discounts. If you haven’t already, see which auto insurance discounts might apply to you and get your auto insurance quote today.