National School Bus Safety Week

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), school buses are one of the safest ways to transport schoolchildren. Yet numerous injuries and fatalities occur outside of or near a school bus because a motorist has failed to obey the stop-arm warning or to follow local traffic laws.

• From 2011 and 2020, there were 1.6 times more fatalities among pedestrians (183) than occupants of school buses (113) in school bus-related crashes.
• A total of 218 school-age children (18 and younger) died in school bus-related crashes during that period, either as occupants of school buses or other vehicles, or on foot or bike.
• Of the 218 deaths, 85 were children who were walking.

Respect the “Danger Zone”

The school bus loading and unloading area is called the “Danger Zone.” Specifically, this is any side of the bus where a child may not be seen by the bus driver and, therefore, is in the most danger. In recognition of National School Bus Safety Week October 16-20, let’s work together to keep our children safe as they wait to ride the bus to and from school.