Massachusetts Personal Injury Library
School Bus Accidents: It's Your Children (Part B)
School Bus Accident Prevention
- Seat Belts
Some injuries from school bus accidents can be prevented if school buses installed seat belts. The National Coalition for School Bus Safety says, “The basic design of the Large Yellow School Bus has not been changed since 1977. Families of accident victims, better informed parents, National PTA, and multiple physician groups are demanding improvements and seatbelts on school buses.”
- Bus Drivers with Previous Accident Experience
An important factor for school bus accidents are bus drivers who have return to work after being involved in a school bus accident.
Many of them return to driving, even when it is clear that they shouldn’t. Stiffer penalties need to be enforced by school districts and stronger laws created by the legislature to protect our children.
School Bus Safety:
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the school bus is still a safe way for children to travel.
A NHTSA report says, “School buses are nearly 8 times safer than passenger vehicles. But children must take care when boarding or leaving the bus. While an average of 7 school-age passengers are killed in school bus crashes each year, 19 are killed getting on and off the bus.”
They go on to state, “Most of those killed are children five to seven years old. They are hit in the danger zone around the bus, either by a passing vehicle or by the school bus itself. It is illegal for a vehicle to pass a bus with its red light flashing.”
There are some things that can be done to make bus interaction safer:
- Teach children bus safety rules
- Teach kids how to safely get on/off the bus
- Help children understand the sight zone and danger zone of the bus and driver
- Remind kids never to walk behind a bus
- When crossing in front of the bus, make sure you have eye contact with the driver before crossing
- If you feel the school bus drops off or picks up children in an unsafe location, notify the school and/or bus driver
Everyone needs to do their part to make it safer for children to ride the bus. By implementing safer practices, perhaps we can avoid the 26 deaths a year!
If your child has been injured or killed in a school bus accident, contact an experienced personal injury attorney to protect your rights. Kiley Law Group will evaluate your case for FREE. There are NO FEES unless one of our Boston car accident attorneys wins your case.
Call 1-888-208-1695 today. FREE Consultations!
