School Bus Safety

September 30, 2010

It's back to school time, and this year 25.1 million children will ride to school in 474,000 school buses in the United States, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). While school buses are safer than other passenger vehicles, there are specific laws in place to prevent bus related accidents.

According to the NHTSA, between 1998 and 2008 there were 414,399 fatal motor vehicle crashes, of which only 0.34 percent were classified as school transportation related. Buses are safer than smaller passenger vehicles, due primarily to their size. Passengers and drivers in cars and trucks are the most likely to sustain injuries when in an accident with a bus. Of the 1,564 people that died from school transportation related accidents between 1998 and 2008, 72 percent were occupants of other vehicles.

However, children are also injured and killed in bus related accidents. NHTSA research shows 8 school bus passengers die and 8,000 are injured every year. Of the injuries, 42 percent are sustained in crashes and 24 percent are sustained while children board or exit the bus.

Drivers should be aware of the laws that apply while driving in a school zone or near a school bus. School zones are marked areas surrounding schools with a reduced speed limit, usually 15 or 20 mph. Some school zones will have pedestrian crossings, and all drivers must yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and obey any school crossing guards.

It is illegal to pass a school bus when the stop sign is extended and the red lights are flashing. These signs mean that children are getting on or off the bus and will be in or near the street. Flashing yellow lights mean that the bus is preparing to stop and that all drivers should slow down.

Drivers must stop at least ten feet behind the school bus. If there are less than four lanes of traffic, both directions of traffic must stop. If there are more than four lanes of traffic or if the road is divided only the traffic traveling in the same direction as the bus must stop.

Children and drivers should be aware of buses' danger zone. Due to the size of a school bus, the bus driver cannot see everything within ten feet of the bus. Children should be taught to always walk at least ten feet away from the bus in every direction and to always cross in front of the bus.

Driving cautiously and obeying the laws will help to prevent devastating accidents.

Article provided by Rhonda R. Crabtree, Attorney at Law
Visit us at www.rcrabtreelaw.com