Ensuring the safety of children during their daily commute to school is a top priority for parents, educators and society as a whole. Millions of American kids ride school buses to and from school, partially because school buses are among the safest automobiles on the roadways.
Traffic fatalities involving children on school buses don’t exceed 1%. Unfortunately, accidents can happen. Understanding the prevalent types of incidents is the first step towards enhancing safety measures.
Rear-end collisions
School transportation vehicles are, understandably, the most regulated on the roadways. But unfortunately, even this hasn’t phased out school bus accidents. One of the most frequent types of school bus accidents involves rear-end collisions. These incidents often occur when drivers fail to notice a stopped school bus’s stop arm, potentially harming children boarding or disembarking.
The stop arm is a retractable wing extending from every school bus’s side. When a school vehicle stops to drop off or pick up students, the stop sign on the stop arm flashes. This way, motorists can be signaled to stop, allowing students to board or alight from a school bus safely.
Side-impact crashes
Side-impact crashes pose a significant threat to school bus safety. These collisions can result from a failure to yield, running red lights or distracted driving.
Rollover accidents
Rollover accidents, although less common, can have severe consequences. Factors like adverse weather conditions, speeding or improper maintenance may contribute to such incidents.
School buses have come a long way in terms of safety to help ensure students are safe during their daily commute. However, it’s crucial to acknowledge that school accidents can still happen. And when they do, it is important to remember that seeking legal guidance is always an option.
