Safety Tips for Your Kids Who Need to Use Public Transportation

National School Bus Safety Week is October 20-24, 2025. This annual event encourages school districts, parents and communities to promote bus safety, as well as all transportation students use to attend school.

Simon Burse, an attorney with DiBella Law in Massachusetts and New Hampshire sent me a guide the law firm created that offers practical, easy-to-follow tips for parents and caregivers to help ensure kids stay safe while traveling on buses, trains, or other forms of public transportation.

I have provided an excerpt from their guide,"Safety Tips for Your Kids Who Need to Use Public Transportation". If you are interested in obtaining the entire guide, please contact simon@dibellalawoffice-outreach.com.

Talking to Kids About Public Transportation Safety: The first step in helping your child use public transit safely is having an open conversation about what to expect and how to stay safe. Since children start riding public transportation independently at different ages, tailor your discussion to match your child's maturity level. For elementary age, focus on the basics, such as who to ask for help, what transit employees look like, and the importance of avoiding strangers. For middle and high school age, have honest conversations about more serious risks, such as sexual harassment or assault and explain how to report unsafe situations.

Managing Your Child's Behavior:
Younger children should know that running or climbing on buses and trains is unsafe. Teenagers may need reminders to be respectful of other riders, such as keeping music and videos at a low volume. Make sure your child understands that breaking the rules can lead to trouble with transit authorities and cause issues with fellow passengers. By setting clear expectations and practicing safety strategies, you can help your child navigate public transportation responsibly and with confidence.

Helping Your Child Handle Emergencies:
Even the most street-smart kid can become lost or confused while using public transportation alone. Teach your child how to read public transit maps and understand where they are in the city. Make sure they know their usual routes and key landmarks. If they do get lost they should: (1) Talk to a transit employee for help; (2) If no transit employees are available, look for another parent with children and ask for assistance; (3) Call or text you immediately if they have a phone which should always be charged and turned on; (4) Keep your contact information written somewhere in a hard copy in case their phone dies.

How to Recognize & Report Unsafe Situations:
Teach your child to trust their gut when something doesn't feel right. If they notice an unsafe situation, such as a broken piece of machinery, a reckless bus driver or a person behaving strangely they should (1) Distance themselves from the situation; (2) Seek help from authorities; (3)Get off the bus or train immediately and call you; (4) Call 911 and provide location details.

First Aid Basics for Common Transit-Related Injuries:
Keep band-aids and antiseptic ointment in your child's backpack for minor injuries or cuts. Explain to them that if they experience a serious injury, such as a bad fall, they should call 911 immediately.

Helping your child start using public transportation alone is a great way to teach them skills and independence. An important part of this process is ensuring your child knows how to put their safety first. The information DiBella Law has compiled is a great way to assist parents to start the process.