(ARA) -What's the largest and safest mass transit system in the United States? Parents everywhere will be happy to know it's those yellow buses that take America's children to and from school every day.

School buses make approximately 10 billion trips each year, and drive about 4 billion miles, with a safety record unequalled in the transportation industry. While hundreds of school-aged children are killed each year as pedestrians, bicyclists or as occupants in other motor vehicles during normal school transport hours, fatalities involving school bus passengers have averaged only six a year for the last ten years, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's National Center for Statistics and Analysis

"Parents need to know that, hands down, the school bus is the safest way to and from school," says Mike Martin, executive director of the National Association for Pupil Transportation. "But that's no reason to be complacent."

John O'Leary, president and CEO of Thomas Built Buses, the leading manufacturer of school buses in North America, offers these tips to keep kids stafe.

Students riding a bus should always:

* Stand at least five giant steps (10 feet) away from the edge of the road so the bus driver and others can see them.

* Wait until the bus stops, the door opens and the driver says it's okay before stepping onto the bus.

* Be alert to traffic. When getting on or off the bus, look left, right, and then left again before entering or crossing the street.

Crossing students should:

* Walk in front of the bus, never behind it.

* Walk on the sidewalk or along the side of the road to a point at least ten giant steps ahead of the bus before crossing to the street.

* Be sure the bus driver can see them, and they can see the bus driver.

* Wait for the driver's signal to cross.

Motorists should:

* Be aware it is illegal to pass a school bus stopped to load or unload students.

* Know and understand laws governing motorist's driving behavior near a school or
school bus.

* Learn the "flashing signal light system" that school bus drivers use to alert motorists if they are going to stop.

Parents and teachers who want to review safety rules and guidelines with their children and students can visit the Safety and Values page of the Inside Thomas Built Buses section of www.thomasbus.com to download a school bus safety activity book for elementary age students.