• Children's safety is the most important part of a bus route.school bus image by Lombok from Fotolia.com
  
  Children's safety is at the forefront of school bus route regulations. Many factors determine whether an area is safe for students to wait for their transportation to school. Just because a bus stop is conveniently located does not mean students can reach it safely. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a part of the federal Department of Transportation, has issued regulations to ensure that the transport of children to school is as safe as possible.
  
  

Street Considerations

• Bus stops ultimately dictate the bus route and thus are a major component of bus route regulations. Though not every bus stop can conform to the ideal, the guidelines help determine the best locations. Busy streets with high speed limits and multiple lanes should be avoided because a higher volume of cars creates a greater risk for accident. Other elements to avoid are streets without sidewalks, left turns, any route points that require going in reverse and railroad crossings.
  
  

Bus Stop Considerations

• When determining where a bus stop should be, certain elements are more important than others with regard to student safety. Every effort should be made to avoid students' needing to cross the street before boarding the bus, and under no circumstances should they cross multi-lane roads. Bus stops should be well lighted and contain enough space for children to wait without risk of falling into the street. If possible, bus stops should provide shelter from rain, snow and wind.
  
  

From Home to School Bus Stop

• Though parents are expected to ensure that students are safely escorted from home to bus stop, other factors can further guarantee their safety. Bus stops should be within 1 1/2 miles of a child's home and a safe access way should lead from home to the bus stop. These paths should avoid crossing streets and high-volume traffic areas whenever possible.