School Bus Safety

school bus safety

A new nationwide School Bus Safety media campaign has been launched by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to inform motorists of the risks associated with passing stopped school buses in an unsafe manner.

“Passing a stopped school bus is against the law and could have fatal consequences. Nothing is worth the risk,” NHTSA Acting Administrator Ann Carlson says. “Children’s lives are on the line – every driver needs to stop when a school bus stop arm is extended.”

More children are injured, not while riding the bus, but while entering or exiting. Since getting on or off is one of the biggest risks in school bus safety, rules in every State and the District of Columbia require drivers to stop when the arm is extended.

School Bus Safety

In the 2019 Stop Arm school bus safety survey conducted by the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services, 130,963 school bus drivers reported that 95,319 automobiles had illegally passed their buses on a single day. These sample data reveal that American drivers committed more than 17 million infractions during the course of a 180-day school year.

The NHTSA has some safety tips about how parents can talk to children about school bus safety.

  • While Waiting for the Bus: At the very least five minutes prior to the bus’s arrival, your child should be at the bus stop. Visit the bus stop before the start of the new school year to demonstrate to your child where to wait for the bus, at least three enormous steps (six feet) away from the curb. Remind your youngster that running or playing at the bus stop is not appropriate.
  • Safely Getting On and Off: Your child should wait for the school bus to arrive, come to a complete stop, open its door, and for the driver to give the all-clear before getting on or off. The handrails should be used by your youngster to prevent falls.
  • Always Exercise Caution Near Buses: Never let your child follow a school bus. If your child needs to cross the street in front of the bus, instruct them to do so at least five huge steps (10 feet) away from the bus on a sidewalk or on the side of the road. Before crossing, your child should make eye contact with the bus driver to let him or her know they are doing so to avoid the danger zone. 

If you’ve been injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault, call 866-730-3508 for a free consultation with an Orlando car accident attorney at the Martinez Manglardi personal injury law firm. Convenient locations throughout Central Florida.

 

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