School Bus Accidents & Safety Tips for 2018

It’s critical to minimize school bus accidents by following key safety rules. With the 2017-2018 school year in full swing, the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles is reminding all motorists to be alert while on the roadways, as they will be shared with school buses filled with children. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an average of 18 school-aged children die each year in school transportation-related crashes, with an average of six of those children being school transportation vehicle occupants.

Recent School Bus Accidents

August 2017, Jefferson County Missouri – A school bus from Fox C-6 School District was involved in an accident. The school bus was occupied and fortunately, no one on the bus appeared to be hurt. There are no reports on the cause of the accident.

August 2017, Calumet Township Indiana – A school bus was struck after the driver of a Honda Civic allegedly disregarded stopping at a stop sign and struck the school bus. The school bus was occupied by 3 students and 2 school employees. Luckily none of these occupants were injured, however, the driver of the Honda Civic had two passengers in the vehicle. One passenger, a 6-year-old child, died from blunt force trauma injuries resulting from the crash, the other, also a juvenile, was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the vehicle was allegedly found to be driving on a suspended license and investigations show that alcohol, traffic offenses, and speed contributed to the crash.

Share the Road with School Buses

Hearing about school bus accidents is frightening for any parent of school-aged children. Studies show that school buses are the safest mode of transportation for getting children back and forth to school. School buses are big, bright yellow and are designed for safety. However, even with these safety features in place, school bus accidents still occur. Learning how to share the roads with school buses can help to reduce the number of crashes involving school transportation vehicles.

Here Are a Few Tips on Avoiding School Bus Accidents:

    • Always be alert around school buses, children are often unpredictable
    • All traffic must stop if the stop arm is extended and the yellow or red lights on the bus are flashing
    • When stopping for a bus, always allow enough space for children to enter and exit the bus safely
    • Never pass a bus from behind when it is stopped to load or unload children

If you need an attorney because you or your child were hurt

Any motor vehicle accident is tragic, but when accidents involve school buses and children, no words can describe how these crashes affect the families and communities of all involved. If someone you know has been the victim of a school bus accident, the attorneys at Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice and Purtz are here to fight for you. We have over 50 years of experience with personal injury cases involving motor vehicle crashes. We have six offices to serve you. Our locations are in Fort Myers (2 offices to serve you), Cape Coral, Naples, Lehigh Acres, and Port Charlotte. Call us to set up your appointment for a free consultation.