Bus safety TV program for teachers and schools.

The recently completed Victorian Parliamentary Road Safety Committee's Inquiry into the Incidence and Prevention of Pedestrian Accidents found that there was a need to educate children about safer behaviour around school buses. This paper describes the development and principles underpinning the program and provides a guide to its use in support of Traffic Safety Education programs in schools. The TV program is part of the Traffic Safety Education Teacher Professional Development Project and targets specifically teachers and students P-10, for use in classroom programs. SOFNet, the Victorian Department of Education school satellite network, produced the program. The TV program examines the five major appeals to schools in the program in dealing with the rationale for bus safety programs, identification of the risks to be managed in and around buses, that bus safety program activities are achievable, fun, practical, and relevant to students' stages of development, that bus safety can be readily integrated into school programs and the extensive support and resources available in Victoria. A fundamental basis for the tone and pitch of the program has been that, while the consequences of poor behaviour may be indicated, they are not shown. Effective educational materials reinforce harm prevention and risk management as a positive and effective intervention approach to road user behaviour. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E202275.