According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), from 2004 to 2013, drivers across the United States were involved in 340,039 motor vehicle traffic crashes that ended fatally. Of those, 4%, or 1,214, were classified as “school-transportation-related” which involved a school bus or other vehicles that functioned as school buses, transporting children to and from school, field trips or sporting events. The NHTSA also reported that every year, an average of 134 people die due to school-transportation-related crashes. Although school bus accidents are rare, they can and do occur. Even if the number of children who die in such accidents is relatively low, even just one is too many when it comes to your child. There are certain things you can do to make sure that your child is safe from such an accident.
Tips for School Bus Safety
The way your child behaves at the bus stop is an important part of school bus safety. To protect your child, you should make sure that your child is aware of and adheres to safety rules before boarding the bus.
Before Boarding
- You should advise your child to stay out of the street when waiting for the school bus.
- At bus stops, you should tell your child to line up roughly 10 feet from the curb.
- Tell your child to wait until the school bus comes to a complete halt before boarding the vehicle. Because the driver is the only one with a full view of the traffic on the road, your child should wait until the driver says it is safe to come aboard.
- If your child needs to cross the road to board the school bus, he or she should wait for the bus to come to a full stop and for the red lights to flash and extend the STOP sign. Kids should also look both ways before crossing the road to board the bus.
- If they are walking in front of the bus, children should make eye contact with the driver and take 5 big steps in front of the bus before they completely cross.
On-Board and Exit
Encourage your child to use proper behavior as a bus passenger, respect the authority of the driver and avoid doing things that will distract the driver. You should instruct your child to:
- Avoid standing while the bus is moving. They should always stay in their seat.
- Refrain from making too much noise.
- Keep hands, head, and feet inside at all times. And not to stick their hands and face out of the window!
- Refrain from pushing, roughhousing, or rushing while boarding and exiting the bus.
- Cooperate with the driver and always listen and adhere to the driver’s instructions.
A Law Firm that Knows the Legal Landscape
If your child has been injured in a school bus accident, you should immediately seek the help of an experienced personal injury lawyer at Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff, & Wolff of RMFW Law at 212-344-1000. You can discuss how to make a claim against the negligent party. This first meeting will cost you nothing. We have won millions of dollars for past clients – you too can be on this coveted list. RMFW Law is a winning law firm and we know which legal doors to open and when to open them. Give us a call. We look forward to hearing from you.
