Bus Safety

Facts

Since 1990, 1,450 people have died in school bus-related crashes -- an average of 132 fatalities per year. (NHTSA)

School bus transportation is one of the safest forms of transportation in the United States. Every year, approximately 440,000 school buses travel approximately 4.3 billion miles to transport 23.5 million children to and from school and school-related activities. Since 1990, there have been about 407,000 fatal traffic crashes in the United States. Of those, only 1,313 were classified as school bus-related. (NHTSA)

A school bus-related crash is one that involves, either directly or indirectly, a school bus-type vehicle, or a vehicle functioning as a school bus, transporting children to or from school or school-related activities. (NHTSA)

Of the estimated 8,500 to 12,000 children injured in school bus-related crashes annually, 96 percent have injuries that are considered minor (scrapes, bumps, bruises, etc.) (NHTSA)

The other 4 percent of children injured in school bus-related crashes annually--about 350 to 475--have serious injuries, broken bones or worse. (NHTSA)

Pedestrian fatalities (while loading and unloading school buses) account for approximately 2.5 times as many school bus-related fatalities annually as school bus- occupant fatalities. (NHTSA)

Since 1990, 224 school-age pedestrians (less than 19 years old) died in school bus-related crashes. Nearly two-thirds (65 percent) were killed by school buses, 5 percent by vehicles functioning as school buses, and 30 percent by other vehicles involved in the crashes. (NHTSA)

More than half of all school-age pedestrians killed in school bus-related crashes in 2000 were between 5 and 7 years old. (NHTSA)

The Danger Zone
Although school buses are the safest way to get children to school, an average of 30 school-age children die in school bus-related traffic crashes each year. (NHTSA)

Most of the school-age children killed in school bus-related crashes each year are pedestrians, and nearly half of the school-age pedestrians killed in those crashes are from 5 to 7 years old. They are hit in the "Danger Zone" around the bus, either by a passing vehicle or by the bus itself. (NHTSA)

The Danger Zone is a 10-foot wide area on all sides of a school bus--an area where children are in the most danger of being hit. Children should be taught to stay 10 feet away from a school bus (or as far away as they can) and never go behind it. They should be told to take five giant steps in front of the bus before crossing so the driver can see them. (NHTSA)

• Young children are most likely to be hit because they:
• Hurry to get on or off a school bus.
• Act before they think and have little experience with traffic.
• Assume motorists will see them and will wait for them to cross.
• Don't always stay within the bus driver's sight. (NHTSA)

School Bus Stop Law for Motorists
When approaching a school bus with flashing signals or flashing signals and an extended stop sign on a public or private road, you must stop and remain stopped until all children are clear of the roadway and the bus moves again. (Virginia Driver's Manual)

You must also stop if the bus is loading or unloading children and the signal devices are not functioning properly. (Virginia Driver's Manual)
  
You do not have to stop, however, if you are traveling in the opposite direction on roadways separated by a physical barrier or unpaved median area. (Virginia Driver's Manual)
 
In Virginia, if you are convicted of passing a school bus that is stopped to load or unload passengers, you will receive a six-point violation that will stay on your record for 11 years. (VA DMV)

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