Bus Safety
Keeping students safe on the bus is a shared responsibility — between drivers, students, families, schools and CBE Transportation.
Administrative Regulations 6005 and 6095 inform the School Bus Rules and student behaviour expectations.
School Bus Rules
- Students must stay seated and face forward while the bus is moving.
- Hands, arms, and heads must be kept inside the bus.
- Students should not get on, off, or move around the bus while it is moving.
- Throwing items inside or outside the bus is not allowed.
- Students are expected to be quiet and respectful to help keep the ride safe and calm. Loud noise that distracts the driver is not allowed.
- Fighting, rough play, swearing, or rude behaviour is not allowed.
- Students who damage the bus on purpose will be held responsible.
- Students must follow the driver’s instructions when getting off the bus and only cross the road when it is safe.
- Students and parents are not allowed on the bus unless the driver or school has given permission.
Restricted Items on School Buses
Under the Traffic Safety Act and the Commercial Vehicle Safety Regulation, certain items are not allowed on school buses.
These include:
- Animals
- Firearms
- Explosives
- Flammable or combustible materials
- Anything that is dangerous, disruptive, or could put people on the bus at risk
Items related to school programs may be allowed if there’s enough space and they can be stored safely. In those cases, special arrangements must be made in advance between the principal (or their designate) and the bus driver.
Consequences
If a student breaks a safety or behaviour rule on the bus it will result in the following:
- The driver will first speak with the student.
- If the student does not listen, the driver or supervisor will report the concern to their supervisor and they will submit a Student Bus Report to CBE Transportation for follow up with the school.
Note: We encourage drivers to fill out these reports as a communication tool to ensure students are safe and supported. The school will keep a record and may take action, which could include suspending bus privileges. Students will never be removed from the bus during a trip.
If your child sees something on the bus that bothers them, please let the school and the bus company know. If your child is involved in an incident, the school or bus company will also let you know. Everyone will work together towards a solution.
Expectations
- The school bus is considered an extension of the classroom. Students are expected to follow school rules and behave in a safe and respectful manner.
- Drivers are in charge of the bus and may assign seats or take attendance as needed.
- Breaking school bus rules may result in losing bus privileges, a school suspension or other consequences.
Roles & Responsibilities
- Families are responsible for having students get to and from the bus stop safely, and for supervision of students as they wait or arrive at their bus stops
- CBE Transportation is responsible for creating safe, efficient, cost effective and sustainable routes and bus stops that offer a safe space for bus access and loading
- Drivers are responsible for safely transporting students from designated stops to and from school in properly maintained equipment
- Schools are responsible for student safety as students load and unload from the buses
- Principals are responsible for addressing student management concerns on the bus and at the bus stops
Transportation works very closely with service providers, schools and parents to ensure students are safe, service is reliable, and issues are addressed in a timely manner.
Safety Review Process
- A route assessment mandated by the province is completed each October and reviewed by a CBE representative.
- If any interest-holder (driver, parent, student, school, and service provider, public) identifies a safety issue, it is reviewed by CBE Transportation staff and a safety advisor.
- There are monthly meetings between CBE Transportation and service providers to address any transportation issues.
- New communities are routinely visited to evaluate readiness for bus service.
Safety Features
- School buses are generally not equipped with seat belts.
- Most school buses with a body size designed to carry fewer than 36 passengers are equipped with a three-or-four-point passenger restraints for each seating space.
- Students weighing less than 40 pounds need to be seated in an appropriate car/booster seat or integrated bus seat
Bus Evacuation Drills
Twice a year, emergency evacuation practices are carried out for most students on yellow buses, in cooperation with the school. An evacuation video is available for both general transportation and specialized transportation when in-person bus evacuation drills are not practicable.
School Bus Capacity
The standard capacity of a school bus is up to 72 passengers, or 3 students per seat.
Emergencies
CBE and its service providers follow clear steps to keep students safe during unexpected situations.
What Happens in Different Types of Emergencies
There is a Serious Emergency
- The transportation service provider calls emergency services.
- Emergency services would be sent out as appropriate, students would be evacuated, and parents/guardians will be notified.
- Students with possible injuries are only released from the scene to a parent, emergency services or a school official.
A Student is Missing
- Parents report the child as missing to the service provider;
- School administration and the Manager, Transportation Services are made aware;
- A request goes out to all service providers for drivers in the area to assist in the search; and
- After 10 minutes, if the child is not located, Calgary Police Service is called by the parent (or school staff if no parent available) to coordinate search efforts
There is No Parent at the Stop to Meet the Child when Expected
- The driver contacts dispatch and continues the route;
- Dispatch will try to reach all of the contact numbers provided;
- Once the driver completes the route and contact is made, the driver will return to the student’s home or corner stop;
- If there is still no parental contact, the school will be contacted to see if the child can be returned to the school; and
- If necessary, the appropriate emergency service will be called.
Bus has a Mechanical Failure
- The driver contacts dispatch and a replacement vehicle will be sent if required;
- The service provider will provide delay information to families;
- If the delay is expected to be long, the service provider will contact the school with updates
Student Medical / Incident / Behaviour
- If a student becomes distressed, appropriate emergency procedures are followed.
- Parents/Guardians will be notified
My 1st Ride
School Bus Orientation
Helping Students Feel Confident Riding the Bus
The Calgary Board of Education, along with our partners, are pleased to offer a school bus orientation program called My 1st Ride. This program is designed to familiarize students with the experience of taking the yellow bus to and from school on a regular basis.
The orientation is aimed at first-time riders, students with special transportation needs and older students who are using transportation for the first time. Each group is offered an orientation session to meet their diverse needs.
The orientation consists of a 20-minute presentation followed by a short ride on a school bus. Each new rider will be given a certificate of completion.
Participants must register in advance. Spots are limited and are on a first-come, first-served basis. When registering for My 1st Ride orientation, please select one ticket per student attending, parents and siblings do not require a ticket.
There is no cost for this event. Sessions run every half hour between 9 AM - 3 PM. Each session will take approximately 1 hour.
Registration
My 1st Ride orientation sessions for the 2026–2027 school year have now concluded.
Registration for the next school bus orientation program will open in May 2027. Please check back at that time for upcoming dates, locations and registration details.
Online Resources for Families
Contact
CBE Transportation
General Information
Office Hours
Monday – Friday
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
The office will be closed on all holidays and system-wide non-instructional days.
Last modified: 2026-08-10 20:02:00.272491 +0000 UTC