About half of Alabama public school students ride the bus to school, but experts say it’s normal for new bus riders to feel a little anxious.

Chad Carpenter, director of transportation for the Alabama State Department of Education, said there are lots of things parents can do to ease nerves and ensure their child gets to and from school safely.

As classes start back this month, here’s some advice Carpenter has for new bus riders and their parents:

Talk to your child about school bus rules.

Carpenter said it’s key to discuss bus safety and expectations with your child – ideally before the first week of school.

Talk with your child about how to safely get on and off of the bus, to listen to what the bus driver says, to be alert when the bus stops and while exiting the bus, and to wait on the driver’s directive before they walk to the bus.

And most importantly, to stay off the phone when they’re getting on and off the bus, he added.

“Statistically speaking, without a doubt, the most dangerous part of a bus ride for any student is getting them on and off of that bus,” Carpenter said. “If we can get them on that bus, it is a tank. It’s a safe vehicle. It’s amazingly safe.”

To help start the conversation, here’s a safety guide from the United States Department of Transportation, as well as some other parent resources recommended by the National Association for Pupil Transportation.

Get to your stop early.

Students should get to their bus stop at least 10 minutes prior to the driver’s scheduled arrival.

“Good bus drivers will be at that same stop within a five minute window every day, but things happen,” Carpenter said.

If you have a small child, go with them to their bus stop.

Carpenter said it’s important for parents of small children to accompany them to the bus stop, for at least the first week or two of school if possible. That can help your child feel less overwhelmed about finding their bus, and knowing when it’s OK to get on it.

It’s also an opportunity to get to know the bus driver and their bus rules. That also makes it easier to contact the driver if any problems arise.

What can I do to keep track of my child?

If you’re concerned about your child getting lost or missing a stop, Carpenter said parents can ask their transportation director about tracking options.

Some school systems, like Auburn City Schools, use apps to help parents keep track of where their bus riders are. Most programs assign students a number or a card to use every time they get onto or off a bus.

If your child doesn’t have a cell phone, an Apple Tag or similar device in their backpack could help you locate them if something goes wrong.

What if my child misses their stop?

Bus riders should always tell their driver if they missed their stop, Carpenter said. That driver should be able to reroute, or call for an emergency stop, if needed.

But parents should advise their kids never to get off at the wrong stop, even if they think they know the way home.

“They may think, ‘Oh it’s just around the block and I can get there,’ but crazy things happen,” he said. “We want to drop those kids off exactly where they’re supposed to be dropped off, but if they stay on that bus too long by accident, we can fix that.”

See more Ed Lab toolkits for parents and students here.