What are the 'danger zones' around a school bus?

The 'danger zones' are areas immediately around a school bus where students are at greatest risk of being struck or run over. The zones extend approximately 10 feet from the front, sides, and rear of the bus. The most dangerous area is immediately in front of and beside the bus — the bus's mirrors and the driver's seat height create blind spots where a small student is invisible to the driver. School bus safety procedures train students to walk at least 10 feet away from the bus (some programs use the '10 giant steps' rule), never bend down near the bus to pick up dropped items, and always make eye contact with the driver before crossing. Several student fatalities each year happen in these zones.