Know

Your program may offer transportation to children for a variety of reasons. These range from daily transportation to and from the program to an occasional field trip. Regardless of how often you transport children, you need to know how to keep them safe on the road.

To transport children younger than school age, at least two adults should be in a vehicle at all times. Remember, standard staff-to-child ratios must be maintained. You must have permission to transport children.

Driver Qualifications

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations state that drivers of vehicles transporting children should:

• Be at least 21 years old
• Be licensed to drive the vehicle (a commercial license may be necessary)
• Have a safe driving record for at least five years
• Have no criminal record involving crimes against children or involving drugs or violence
• Have no medical conditions that impair the ability to drive
• Have taken no alcohol or prescription drugs within the previous 12 hours that would affect the ability to safely drive a vehicle
• Agree not to smoke in or near the vehicle

Do not transport children in your personal vehicle.

Attendant Qualifications

In addition to the driver, at least one adult should be present in a vehicle transporting children. While the driver focuses on road safety, the attendant focuses on keeping the children safe in the vehicle. The attendant is responsible for securing children in safety seats, monitoring health and safety needs, and ensuring safe behavior. The attendant should have training or experience in child development or early-childhood education. This person should also have valid first aid training and certification.

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Vehicle Safety

Safety items should be stored securely in a vehicle safety kit. The kit should always be kept in the vehicle used to transport children. These items should only be accessible to the driver, attendant, and emergency responders. These include:

• First aid kit
• Fire extinguisher
• Seat-belt cutter
• Maps
• Charged cell phone
• The name, address, and telephone number of the child-care program
• Emergency contact information for each child
• Any prescribed medications for a particular child (breathing treatments, epinephrine injector, etc.)

Do

The staff should conduct a daily pre-trip safety inspection. Make sure the vehicle is clean. There should not be any obstructions on the floor or seats. The Apply section contains a pre-trip inspection form. Note and correct any problems, such as low tire pressure or dirty windshields. Vehicle maintenance records, driver's license numbers, license-plate information, and insurance information should be stored on-site, and in the vehicle as appropriate.

Child Safety

Keeping children safe in a moving vehicle is a serious matter and a major responsibility. Safety involves proper seating, vehicle conditions, transportation policies and procedures, and child behavior. The following guidelines will help you keep children safe.

In a car or van:

• Use a car seat or child-restraint system. Follow local, state, and federal laws. For preschoolers, this usually means a forward-facing car seat is necessary.
• Make sure you know how to install the seat correctly. Check that the seat is installed correctly and the child is secured correctly before the vehicle moves.
• Never allow a child to sit in the front seat of a vehicle.
• Replace a car seat if it has been recalled, is involved in an accident, or is beyond the manufacturer’s date of use.

In a school bus:

• Use an approved child-safety restraint system designed for children under 50 pounds.
• Make sure the restraint system is installed and used correctly.
• Do not place restraint systems in emergency exit rows.
• Have a plan for evacuating children from the bus. Practice your plan.
• Make sure there is a spot to secure a forward-facing wheelchair with four tie-downs.
• Remember any vehicle that can hold more than 10 people is considered a bus, but large passenger vans are not approved for use as school buses unless they meet certain standards.

In all vehicles:

• Never leave a child alone in a vehicle.
• Make sure the temperature is safe and comfortable. Children are not always dressed for the weather. Use the air conditioning if the internal temperature reaches 82°F. Use the heater if the internal temperature drops below 65°F.
• Do a name-to-face count when children enter and exit the vehicle. Use your attendance sheet.
• Check the vehicle to make sure no child has been left behind.
• Lock the vehicle once you are sure no children are inside.
• Teach children safety rules for transportation. These include wearing a seat belt and staying seated in their places.
• Only pick up and drop off at the curb or at an off-street location.
• Make sure a parent or guardian observes the pick-up and drop-off procedures. Stay with the child until the parent or guardian verbally and physically takes responsibility for the child.
• Record attendance and time of each pick-up and drop-off.
• Take into account individual children’s special health, behavior, or mobility needs when planning where and how to secure children.

Be sure to follow your program's policies and guidelines for transporting children.