School Bus Safety Week (Oct. 20-24) is a good time to remind motorists how they should operate their vehicles around school bus. We can also use a good refresher on the rules, especially when, once we're granted a driver's licenses, we essenitally are never tested on our driving skills or education.
Is school bus safety really that big a problem? While school buses are statistically the safest way to transport school children, dangers still arise. Let's look at the data. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were an average of 108 fatalities annually between 2014 and 2023. That's 971 fatal school-bus-related crashes and 1,079 people of all ages were killed in those crashes.
As part of their "Safe Path Home" initaitive, police in Phillipsburg, Warren County, have gone so far as to
post video on their Facebook of alleged violations of school bus passing. "We will be featuring obvious and/or egregious improper passing of a school bus violations." Check out their Facebook page for some good lessons on what
not to do as a driver around a school bus.
The department also reminds motorists that violating the school bus passing law can bring a fine of $100, 15 days of jail or community service or both for a first offense. A second offense brings a $250 fine and 15 days.
People are different and will react in different ways, whether it's shame or a monetary fine, to change their behaviors. And it could be that some motorists simple forgot or are unaware of the rules about driving near school buses. But if they're licensed drivers, it's on them. When in doubt, stop. Never mind the driver behind you who might be honking incessantly for the 15 to 30 seconds that will take to puase so that school children get to their desination.
Respect the “Danger Zone”
A good way to remember how to act around school buses is to consider the "Danger Zone." That's the loading and unloading area, specifically, any side of the bus where the bus driver can’t see the child. Thus, the child is in the most danger. These areas include:
- 10 feet in front of the bus, where the driver may be sitting too high to see a child
- 10 feet on either side of the bus, where a child may be in the driver’s blind spots
- Behind the school bus
NHTSA also offers some reminders for both motorists as well as parents and caregivers when it comes to school bus safety.
Safety Reminders for Parents and Caregivers
- Arrive at the bus stop five minutes early.
- Stand at least 5 giant steps (10 feet) away from the edge of the road.
- Wait until the bus stops, the door opens, and the driver says it’s okay before stepping onto the bus.
- Be careful that clothing with drawstrings and book bags with straps or dangling objects do not get caught in the handrail or door when exiting the bus.
- Walk in front of the bus; never walk behind the bus.
- Be sure the bus driver can always see you, and you can see the bus driver.
- Before crossing the street, stop and look left-right-left before crossing.
Safety Reminders for Motorists
- The overall best practice is to “always stop if there’s a school bus.”
- Yellow flashing lights indicate the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. Motorists should slow down and prepare to stop their vehicles.
- Motorists may begin moving only when the red flashing lights are turned off, the stop-arm is withdrawn, and the bus begins to move.
- Never pass on the right side of the bus, where children enter or exit. This is illegal and can have tragic results.
- The greatest risk to a child isn’t riding a school bus, but approaching or leaving one. That’s why, as a vehicle driver, it is especially important to pay attention. Students’ lives are on the line.
- Slow down. Watch for children walking in the street, especially if there are no sidewalks in the neighborhood. Watch for children playing and gathering near bus stops.
- Don’t drive distracted. Be alert. Children arriving for the bus may dart into the street without looking for traffic.
- Watch out for young people who may be distracted and not paying attention to the traffic around them.
As the NHTSA campaign above says: "What's could be more important than stopping for kids?"