How can a school bus driver ensure all students have exited the bus?

Conducting a final check of the bus after all students have exited is a crucial step for ensuring their safety. This practice involves the driver walking through the bus to confirm that no students remain on board, especially in hidden or less visible areas such as under seats. This check is vital for preventing any potential accidents or forgetting a student who may have fallen asleep or otherwise been overlooked.

Other methods, such as counting students before and after exiting, may seem effective but can be less reliable due to factors like miscounts or distractions. Relying solely on students to exit safely places too much responsibility on them and does not guarantee that all have disembarked. Waiting until the last student exits before checking can also pose risks, as it delays any verification and could leave a student unmonitored longer than necessary. Therefore, performing a thorough final check is the most reliable approach to ensure that all students have safely exited the bus.