Virginia Kids are back to school, which means streets are filled with school buses. As a result, schools, students, and parents need to keep vital school bus safety tips in mind. The National Safety Council urges all motorists to look out for school buses and parents to be mindful when kids board or get off the bus.
As part of our commitment to helping keep kids safe, Kalfus & Nachman's School Bus Accident Lawyers appeared in The Hampton Roads Show segment to provide parents with important bus safety tips to help prevent accidents and save lives. Check out Back to School Bus Safety Tips from our knowledgeable attorney.
Some Common Causes of School Bus Accidents
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), school buses are safer than smaller passenger vehicles like cars. While injuries are relatively rare for children onboard the bus, passenger vehicles occupants or pedestrians are more likely to suffer severe injuries in school bus collisions. Tragically, some school children get fatally engaged in accidents when boarding or disembarking from the bus.
Some of the most common causes of school bus accidents within a school zone and around school bus boarding or drop-off points are speeding, distracted driving, aggressive driving, not stopping for the stopped bus, and children in the danger zone.
School Bus Safety Tips to Prevent Accidents
Getting on and off the bus is the most dangerous aspect of the school bus ride. Be mindful of the danger zone around the bus. The danger zone is the 10 feet area around the bus where children are most vulnerable to get hit and suffer injuries. And not just daytime, be watchful of school buses at night in the neighborhood, as children coming late from school sports activities. As tons of yellow buses are back on-road, here are some school bus safety tips to follow for keeping kids safe as they head back to school:
- Motorists should stop by school buses all the time and never pass a stopped bus that is loading or unloading children.
- Motorists should avoid distracted driving (talking or texting) in a school zone.
- Stop your vehicle at a safe distance from a school bus to allow a secure entry and exit.
- Discuss school bus safety tips with your child.
- Teach your child to avoid the danger zone.
- Teach your child to never cross behind the bus; always at least ten feet in front.
- Ask children to stand about six feet back from the curb when waiting for the bus.
If you or a loved one was injured in a school bus accident in Virginia Kalfus & Nachman's skilled personal injury attorneys will ensure liable parties are held accountable for your injuries, and you get the deserving compensation. Call us for a free consultation today: 855-880-8163