Your school should define walking school bus procedures and put in place some common-sense road safety practices.

This will help volunteers feel comfortable with their role and ensure students are as safe as possible.

All walking school buses are set up with the help of a STC. They can help plan your route and run a hazard identification walk. This helps identify safe places to cross and to rectify any hazards along the way.

If there are changes to a route, these will need to be assessed and approved by the STC.

Before a student joins the bus, parents and whānau need to sign a consent form. You'll also need to take your child through the walking school bus pledge.

When walking with the bus, adult supervisors ('bus drivers') should:

• stick to the agreed route and stay with the group at all times
• keep to the recommended ratio of one adult to 8 students
• point out the danger of crossing driveways and other hazards
• divert the walking school bus if there's a temporary footpath blockage, such as road works or parked vehicles
• take care when students join and leave the bus
• let newcomers know about expected behaviour — reminding students to listen and obey instructions, especially stopping and crossing the road.

Students agree to:

• listen to the walking school bus driver
• stop, look and listen when crossing the road
• stay on the house side of the footpath
• walk behind the driver and keep in a group
• walk, do not run
• share the footpath with others.

Watch our short video clip — How to walk on a walking school bus.

1. When you are ready to cross the road, choose a safe crossing place away from parked cars, corners, junctions or any other hazards.
2. Gather the students around you away from the kerb until it is safe to cross. It is safer to cross in a bunch, for example 2 rows of 4 across, rather than pairs.
3. Walk across the road, looking and listening as you go.
4. When you have crossed safely, reform the group away from the roadside and carry on with your journey.

Walking school bus 'drivers' do not have the authority to stop traffic in order to cross a road.

If a car stops to allow the group to cross it is vital that you check that other traffic is aware of what is happening. There is the danger of other cars overtaking the stationary vehicle. It is generally safer to wave the vehicles on and cross when the road is clear.

1. Wait until all traffic has stopped before crossing the road.
2. Make eye contact with drivers before stepping off the footpath.
3. Keep looking and listening the entire time you are crossing.

A pedestrian refuge is a raised island in the middle of the road where pedestrians can wait. These are designed to allow pedestrians to cross busy roads in two stages. It gives them a safe place to wait before making the second stage of the crossing.

Don’t overload the safe waiting area. Larger groups should split up and cross in smaller groups. An adult must stay with each group.

1. Make sure students are assembled in an orderly group (for example 4 across) before the button is pressed.
2. Cross when the green walk signal is visible.
3. Do not enter the crossing when the crossing signal has turned red.

If there are school crossings on your route you must use them.

If you notice ongoing problems on your route, like footpaths being blocked or damaged, you should report it to us

We call a driveway that is hidden by hedges, trees or a fence at the end of it, a 'sneaky driveway'.

When a vehicle is exiting a driveway, they may not be able to see pedestrians approaching on the footpath.

Watch our short video how to manage a sneaky driveway.

In bad weather it will take drivers longer to stop and it is more difficult for you to be seen. Always wear your high visibility vest.

If you are wearing a hooded coat or using an umbrella, they can obscure your hearing and vision.