School Bus Safety – Talk To Your Child
Yes, it is true. Even though four to six school-age children die each year on school transportation vehicles, that’s less than one percent of all traffic fatalities nationwide, the more than 25 million schoolchildren who ride the 480,000 school buses each day are much safer taking that bus to and from school than traveling by car.
Now that Michigan children are back to school we will be seeing a lot more of those big yellow buses on the road. And although the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says that the school bus is the safest vehicle on the road, it is actually the process of them getting on and off the bus that can be dangerous. Follow these safe practices provided from the NHTSA and have a talk with your children before their next bus ride.
SAFETY STARTS AT THE BUS STOP
Your child should arrive at the bus stop at least five minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive. Visit the bus stop with your child so you can show your child where to wait for the bus: at least three giant steps (six feet) away from the curb. Remind your child that the bus stop is not a place to run or play.
GET ON AND OFF SAFELY
When the school bus arrives, your child should wait until the bus comes to a complete stop, the door opens, and the driver says that it’s okay before approaching the bus door. Your child should use the handrails to avoid falling.
USE CAUTION AROUND THE BUS
Your child should never walk behind the school bus. If your child must cross the street in front of the bus, tell your child to walk on a sidewalk or along the side of the street, to a place at least five giant steps (10 feet) in front of the bus before crossing. Your child should make eye contact with the bus driver before crossing, to make sure the driver can see your child. If your child ever drops something near the school bus, like a ball or book, the safest thing is for your child to tell the bus driver right away. Your child should not try to pick the item up because the driver might not be able to see him/her.
Yes, we know school buses are tougher, cleaner and more diligently maintained than ever before and school bus drivers are well-trained and school bus traffic laws are strictly enforced but there can still be times when an accident occurs or a child passenger sustains a serious injury.
MICHIGAN SCHOOL BUS SAFETY LAWS REVIEWED
Michigan State Police report the majority of bus-related deaths and injuries involve school age children who are struck by a bus when they are exiting to cross traffic. Injuries are often critical if not fatal.
As a reminder, in Michigan, school buses should be treated like traffic signals. This means:
- When overhead lights are flashing yellow: Prepare to stop
- When overhead lights are flashing red: Stop
- When hazard warning lights are flashing: Proceed with caution
Drivers should be prepared to stop when a slowing bus has its overhead yellow lights flashing and stop at least 20 feet away for buses when red lights are flashing, unless driving in the opposite direction on a divided highway. In addition, always remind your child to stay in sight of the bus driver, don’t hurry off the bus, check traffic first, and to never return to the bus after exiting.
Is there a school zone or bus stop where you see Michigan drivers routinely disregarding safety and traffic laws? If you can capture the risky drivers on video please do, and then report it to your local police department.
Call a School Bus Accident Lawyer
If your child has been injured on a school bus or in a related accident, the vehicle accident attorneys at the Lee Steinberg Law Firm are ready to use our decades of experience to get justice on behalf of your child. Not only can a personal injury lawsuit help ease financial burdens on your family, but it can help create change in a system that poses serious dangers to other kids every single day. Call us today for a risk-free, no-cost consultation at 1-800-LEE-FREE.
