Precautions in the Car/Buses – Basic 1 Security Education Lesson Note (Second Term)

Vehicle safety means following simple rules when we travel in cars and buses so that we stay safe. These rules include getting in and out carefully, wearing a seat belt properly, sitting in the back seat if you are a child, and behaving quietly so the driver can concentrate.

We travel in vehicles every day: cars, buses, taxis. Vehicles help us get places faster, but they can be dangerous if we don’t follow safety rules. Today we’ll learn how to stay safe in vehicles.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• Mention security measures to be taken in cars and buses
• Describe the dangers of a child sitting in the front seat
• Describe what a seat belt looks like

Why do we need safety precautions in vehicles?

• Vehicles move very fast
• Accidents can happen
• Sudden stops can throw you forward
• There are other vehicles on the road
• We need to be protected
• Following rules saves lives

How do we get in and out of vehicles safely?

Entering a car

• Always enter from the side away from traffic (the side near the pavement)
• Open the door carefully and check for bicycles or motorcycles passing
• Don’t open the door too wide
• Watch your fingers when closing the door
• Don’t slam the door
• Make sure the door is properly closed

Why: Cars or bicycles passing can hit the door or hit you.

Entering a bus

• Wait for the bus to stop completely
• Don’t push when getting in
• Hold the handrail
• Let people get off first
• Enter one at a time, in an orderly way
• Watch the steps

Why: You can fall if you rush.

Exiting a car

• Wait for an adult to say it’s safe
• Check for passing vehicles before opening the door
• Get out from the safer side (away from traffic)
• Close the door gently
• Don’t run into the road

Exiting a bus

• Wait for the bus to stop completely
• Hold the handrail
• Watch the steps going down
• Don’t push others
• Step away from the bus before it moves
• Never cross in front of the bus (the driver can’t see you)
• Wait for the bus to leave before crossing

Why: The bus driver might not see you, and oncoming cars can’t see you behind the bus.

Seat belt safety

What is a seat belt?

A seat belt is a safety strap in vehicles that holds you securely in your seat. It is designed to protect you during accidents or sudden stops.

What does a seat belt look like?

Parts of a seat belt:

1. Lap belt: The part that goes across your lap and hips
2. Shoulder belt: The part that goes across your chest and shoulder
3. Buckle: The metal part that clicks and locks the belt together
4. Adjuster: Moves the belt to fit different sizes

Types of seat belts:

• Three-point seat belt: The most common type. It goes across the shoulder and lap.
• Two-point seat belt: Lap belt only (in some buses)
• Five-point harness: For car seats and young children

Colour: Usually black or grey, sometimes beige.

How do you wear a seat belt properly?

1. Pull the belt across your body
2. Make sure the shoulder strap goes across your chest (not your neck)
3. Make sure the lap strap goes across your hips (not your stomach)
4. Insert the metal plate into the buckle
5. Listen for the “CLICK” sound
6. Pull to make sure it is locked
7. Make the belt snug but comfortable

What are the common mistakes to avoid?

• Wearing the belt under your arm (unsafe)
• Wearing the belt too loose
• Wearing the belt across your neck
• Sitting on the belt
• Twisting the belt
• Sharing a belt with another person

Why are seat belts important?

What seat belts do:

• Keep you in your seat during accidents
• Prevent you from hitting the dashboard or windscreen
• Prevent you from being thrown out of the vehicle
• Reduce injuries by more than 50%
• Can save your life

What happens without a seat belt? If the car stops suddenly:

• You keep moving forward
• You can hit the seat in front
• You can hit your head on the windscreen
• You can be thrown out of the car
• You can be seriously injured or killed

What are the seat belt rules?

• Always wear your seat belt
• Wear it for every trip, even short ones
• Everyone in the car must wear one
• Put it on before the car starts moving
• Keep it on until the car stops completely
• Never take it off while the car is moving

What about babies and young children?

Car seats:

• Babies must use special car seats
• Car seats face backward for small babies
• Older toddlers use forward-facing car seats
• Car seats have special harnesses (five-point)
• Car seats must be properly installed
• Car seats must be right for the child’s age and size

Booster seats:

• For older children who have outgrown car seats but are too small for regular belts
• They help the seat belt fit properly
• Usually for ages 4 to 8, or until the child reaches a certain height

When can you use a regular seat belt?

• When you are tall enough (usually around 145 cm or 4’9″)
• When the seat belt fits properly (across the shoulder, not the neck)
• When your feet can touch the floor
• Usually around 8 to 12 years old

Why is the front seat dangerous for children?

Airbag danger

• Cars have airbags in the front seats
• Airbags deploy (blow up) very fast during accidents
• Airbags can hit small children with great force
• They can cause serious injuries to children
• They can even be fatal for young children
• Airbags are designed for adults, not children

Dashboard impact

• The dashboard is close to the front passenger
• In an accident, a child can hit the dashboard
• There is more risk of head injuries

Windscreen danger

• The front seat is closer to the windscreen
• A child can go through the windscreen in severe accidents
• Broken glass can cause injuries

Harder to restrain

• Regular seat belts don’t fit small children well in the front
• The belt might go across the neck (dangerous)
• The lap belt might be on the stomach instead of the hips

Distraction to the driver

• Children might distract the driver
• They might touch controls or buttons
• They might block the driver’s view

Safe rule: Children under 13 should always sit in the back seat.

Why is the back seat safer?

• It is away from airbags
• It is furthest from the impact in front-end collisions
• There is more space to be secure
• No dashboard is directly in front
• Children cannot reach the driver’s controls
• It is less distracting to the driver

Where should you sit in the car?

The safest positions, in order:

1. Middle of the back seat (if it has a seat belt): the safest spot
2. Behind the passenger seat (back right)
3. Behind the driver’s seat (back left)
4. Front seat: only when you are 13 or older, and only if the back seat is full

How should you behave in cars?

Do

• Sit properly in your seat
• Wear your seat belt at all times
• Keep your hands and head inside the car
• Speak quietly so the driver can concentrate
• Keep your belongings organised
• Face forward
• Wait for the car to stop before unbuckling

Don’t

• Put your head or hands out of the window
• Throw things out of the window
• Unbuckle your seat belt while moving
• Stand up in the car
• Jump or bounce
• Fight with siblings
• Distract the driver
• Touch the gear stick or controls
• Play with door locks or handles

Why do we have these rules?

• They keep the driver focused on driving
• They prevent injuries during sudden stops
• They prevent falling out of the vehicle
• They reduce the risk of accidents

How should you behave in buses?

These rules apply to school buses and public buses.

Getting on

• Wait for the bus to stop completely
• Line up, don’t push
• Use the handrail on the steps
• Go to your seat quickly
• Sit down immediately

While on the bus: do

• Sit in your seat properly
• Face forward
• Keep your backpack on your lap or under the seat
• Hold on if standing (if allowed)
• Speak quietly
• Keep aisles clear
• Listen to the bus driver or conductor

While on the bus: don’t

• Stand when the bus is moving (unless it is designed for standing passengers)
• Run around in the bus
• Lean out of windows
• Throw things
• Push or fight
• Eat messy food
• Block the aisle
• Distract the driver

Getting off

• Wait for the bus to stop completely
• Take all your belongings
• Use the handrail
• Don’t push
• Get off carefully
• Step away from the bus
• Never cross in front of the bus

Why: A bus has blind spots. The driver cannot see directly in front.

What should you do in special situations?

If the vehicle is in an accident

• Stay calm
• Stay in your seat with your seat belt on
• Wait for adult instructions
• Don’t get out into traffic
• If the car is safe, stay inside until help arrives
• If you must get out, exit away from traffic

If you are in an emergency vehicle (ambulance)

• Sit where you are told to sit
• Wear a seat belt or lie on the stretcher
• Stay still
• Let the medical people work

In a taxi

• Only use taxis with parents
• Sit in the back seat
• Wear your seat belt
• Don’t share personal information with the driver
• Make sure the doors are locked

How can you help younger siblings?

If you have younger siblings:

• Help them buckle up
• Make sure they are in the car seat properly
• Check that their seat belt isn’t twisted
• Keep them entertained so they don’t distract the driver
• Be a good example

What should parents and drivers do?

You can remind them!

• Always wear a seat belt
• Make sure all passengers are buckled
• Never drive distracted (no phones)
• Obey speed limits
• Check that child car seats are installed correctly
• Keep children in the back seat
• Never leave children alone in the car
• Don’t start driving until everyone is seated
• Lock the doors for safety

Vehicle safety checklist

• Get in from the safe side
• Sit in the back seat (if under 13)
• Wear your seat belt properly
• Keep your head and hands inside
• Sit still and face forward
• Don’t distract the driver
• Wait for a complete stop before getting out
• Exit from the safe side

Remember: “Click it before you kick it!” (Buckle up before the car starts.)

Class activity

• Practise buckling a seat belt (if available)
• Show pictures of proper and improper seat belt use
• Draw the safest place to sit in a car
• Role play getting in and out of a vehicle safely

Evaluation

Choose the correct answer.

1. You should always wear your _____ in a vehicle.
   • a) hat
   • b) seat belt
   • c) shoes only
2. Children should sit in the _____ seat.
   • a) front
   • b) driver’s
   • c) back
3. The front seat is dangerous for children because of _____.
   • a) airbags
   • b) nice views
   • c) comfortable seats
4. A seat belt goes across your _____ and lap.
   • a) neck
   • b) chest/shoulder
   • c) arms
5. You should get out of a car from the side _____.
   • a) facing traffic
   • b) away from traffic
   • c) any side
6. While the car is moving, you should _____.
   • a) stand up
   • b) put your head out of the window
   • c) sit still with your seat belt on
7. You should _____ cross in front of a bus.
   • a) always
   • b) never
   • c) sometimes

Answers: 1-b, 2-c, 3-a, 4-b, 5-b, 6-c, 7-b

Assignment

1. Draw a car with a child sitting safely in the back seat with a seat belt.
2. Show your parents how to wear a seat belt properly.
3. Count how many seat belts are in your family car.
4. Ask your parents: Why do they always make you sit in the back seat?