Transportation

School Bus Behavior (Level II Offense) Section 37.126

• Students must be at stop five minutes prior to designated time.
• Students shall obey the driver's suggestion and help the driver to assure safety at all times.
• Students must ride the bus they are assigned. Buses will load and unload only at designated stops.
• Students must stay off the roadway while waiting for the bus and should form a line to get on the bus.
• Students shall cross at least fifteen feet in front of the bus when crossing the road, never at the rear of the bus.
• Students are to wait until the bus has come to a complete stop before attempting to enter or leave the bus.
• Students shall remain seated while bus is in motion.
• Students shall enter or leave the bus at the front door except in the case of an emergency.
• Students must not leave the bus without the driver's consent except at home or school. No unauthorized stops will be made.
• Students shall occupy any seat assigned by the driver, keep feet out of aisles, off seats, and backs of seats, sit erect with feet on the floor.
• Students must sit three in a seat, filling back seats first when conditions require it.
• Musical instruments must be held by the owner. They may not be left in aisles, at front, or by the rear door.
• Students must keep head, arms, and hands inside the bus.
• Students shall be courteous! No profane or vulgar language is allowed.
• Students shall keep the bus clean. Eating, drinking, or use of tobacco on the bus is prohibited.
• Animals, weapons, or other materials that might infringe on passenger safety are not allowed on the bus.
• Fighting, pushing, or shoving will not be tolerated.
• Students shall report to the driver any damage to the property. Damage to the interior or exterior of the bus will result in payment by the student or parent of student for damages and may result in suspended bus riding privileges for the student.
• Parents are responsible for supervision of the bus stop area prior to the arrival of the bus.
• Students are prohibited from engaging in any misconduct as defined in the Code. 

The Transportation Safety department is dedicated to teaching and training new employees to make them the safest most qualified drivers they can be. Our training program is quite extensive.

To be qualified to drive a school bus, you must complete a minimum of 20 hours of behind-the-wheel training.  This does not include the classroom and video portion (approximately 8 hours).

Safety Tips

Loading and unloading

• A vehicle approaching from either direction must STOP AND REMAIN STOPPED for school buses loading or unloading students when the alternating flashing red lights are activated.
• This applies in both city and rural areas. A vehicle on a highway divided into separate roadways that is divided by a raised median is not required to stop upon meeting or passing a stopped school bus on a different roadway.

Students waiting for their bus to arrive

• SBISD students are required and told by their School Bus Drivers to stand in straight line while waiting for the bus to arrive, we ask that the children stand at least 10 feet back from the edge of the road while waiting for their bus to ensure the safety of all students.

Standing while the School Bus is in motion

• A school district may not require or allow a child to stand on a school bus that is in motion, this is against the law and the driver and/ or student can be ticketed by a Police Officer for standing wile the bus is in motion.
• It is very dangerous for students to stand while the bus is moving; we can prevent injuries if we will all please instruct the children to always remain seated while the bus is in motion.

Railroad Crossings - STOP, LOOK, LISTEN! 

• Every three hours a person or a vehicle is hit by a train somewhere in the United States. In 2013 there were 250 Railroad Crossing fatalities, 943 Railroad Crossing injuries and 1,193 total Railroad Crossing casualties.  
• Texas is second behind California in the Nation in the number of fatalities at railroad crossings. Harris County has more collisions than any other county in the state.
• On an average, once every six days a vehicle and train collide in Harris County.  Please be aware and alert at all Railroad Crossing. Please be mindful that ALL of our School Buses are required by law to stop at ALL railroad crossings.  So please be patient while the school bus driver is making a stop at the railroad track to ensure your child's safety.
• ANYTIME is TRAIN TIME