Three students were struck and killed by their own school bus and another three were similarly killed by illegal passing motorists during the 2023-2024 school year, according to a national survey of states.

The National School Bus Loading and Unloading Survey results were shared on Sunday by Keith Dreiling, the state director of the school bus safety unit at the Kansas State Department of Education, during the annual meeting of the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services in Arlington, Virginia. The six fatalities are double the amount reported by states for the 2022-2023 school year.

Two of last year’s fatalities occurred in New York. Both students there were killed by their school bus. An 8-year-old boy was struck on Jan. 29 by his school bus and killed by the right rear wheel after he reportedly ran in front of the vehicle as it was pulling into its loading zone at school. A 5-year-old girl was killed nearly three weeks later on Feb. 16, after she unloaded from her school bus and crossed in front of it. The school bus driver reportedly did not see her and began to accelerate, striking the girl and knocking her to the pavement. The bus continued forward and the left rear wheels killed the girl.

The other fatality caused by the school bus occurred on Jan. 17 in Florida, where a boy exited the vehicle and then dropped a football. He crawled beneath the school bus to retrieve it and in the process was struck and killed by the right rear dual wheels.

The three illegal passing fatalities occurred in Alabama, Georgia and Texas. The Alabama and Texas incidents involved 15-year-old students, the former a subject of a high-profile investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board. A 15-year-old girl was in her front yard on Oct. 23, 2023, and about to board her morning school bus, when a truck following the school bus failed to stop, swerved to the right, and continued into the girl’s path, striking her and then her house.

The Texas fatality occurred on Dec. 7 last year, when an 18-wheel, tractor-trailer truck struck a vehicle in front of it that was properly stopped for the school bus. The truck driver then swerved to the right and struck the 15-year-old boy after he exited his bus.

An 8-year-old Georgia girl died on Feb. 4, three days after being hit by an illegally passing oncoming motorist as she was attempting to board her school bus. The incident resulted in Addy’s Law, signed by Gov. Brian Kemp in April, to increase the fine for illegal school bus passers and add a prison term.

The school buses in the Alabama, Georgia and Texas incidents all had their red lights flashing and stop arms activated at the time of the collisions.

All U.S. states and the District of Columbia responded to the Kansas State Department of Education survey except New Jersey and Rhode Island, which refused to participate. The six recorded fatalities equal the amount reported for the 2021-2022 school year. The incidents all occurred in dry road conditions, with three occurring in daylight, two at dusk and one at dawn. Five of the fatalities occurred in clear weather conditions while one occurred in cloudy conditions.

The survey began in 1970 and has been conducted every year since. About 73 percent of the 1,273 total student fatalities recorded over the 54-year survey were students 9 years of age or younger. School buses have accounted for 717 of the total fatalities compared to 502 by illegally passing motorists and 54 categorized as “other information.” Sixty-four percent of all fatalities occurred during the morning commute to school.

Related: Louisiana 7-Year-Old Hit, Killed by School Bus
Related: Georgia Student Struck and Killed by Passing Vehicle
Related: Alabama High School Student Killed While Waiting for School Bus

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National School Bus Safety Week inspired districts and transportation companies across the country to showcase their operations, highlight their bus drivers and transportation staff, and share how they are furthering student safety through training and education.

School Bus Safety Week, sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Association for Pupil Transportation, was celebrated Oct. 21-25. It is held each year during the month of October.

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School is back in session, and students have returned to classes on foot, bicycles, in cars and school buses. That means safety challenges and risks are back, too. Motorists are rushing to drop off kids and get to work. Traffic and congestion cause stress, and that changes driver behavior around schools and school buses.

When you compare your first day of school to today’s environment, is there an improvement in performance, optimization and a reduction in stress? School buses have been rolling for a month or so in most parts of the country, and the topic of safety remains top of mind.

A recent report from the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) revealed that nearly 60 percent of parents expressed concerns about their children’s safety, specifically citing issues related to school bus safety, pedestrian crossings, and overall traffic management around schools.

Additionally, a national poll on children’s health published by the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital found that 48 percent of parents said their children walk through an area consisting of passenger vehicles picking up or dropping off students, with 28 percent saying they think it is likely a child will get hurt near a car or bus drop-off area.

According to the most recent National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services one-day illegal passing survey, 66,322 motorists were observed by 98,065 participating school bus drivers in 35 states violating laws to keep students safe while loading and unloading. NASDPTS extrapolated that 45.2 million illegal passing violations could occur during a 180-day school year nationwide. That is an increase of over 6 percent based on last year’s data.

Interestingly, more illegal passing incidents were observed during the afternoon routes than morning routes. Most incidents occurred on the left side of the bus, but shockingly, we still see illegal passing occurring on the right side. These instances are especially dangerous because that is where students board and exit. Nearly 15,000 more oncoming motorists passed school buses than those following behind.

According to the 2022-2023 National School Bus Loading and Unloading Survey, 1,267 student fatalities have occurred over its 53-year history. Nearly three-quarters of these children were 9 years old or younger.

Last month, the Auto Club reminded drivers to slow down and stay alert in and around school zones as well as in other areas where children might be present. It noted that crashes are one of the leading causes of death for school-aged children. The afternoon hours are particularly dangerous. Nearly one-third of child pedestrian fatalities occur between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. That jibes with the NASDPTS survey results.

So, how do we improve safety on and around the school bus? I recommend starting with the parents as they have a vested interest in their child’s safety. The burden of school bus safety can’t fall solely on school transportation and the school bus driver.

Jeff Cassell from the School Bus Safety Company provided several recommendations to help prevent accidents around school buses. He emphasized minimizing crossovers whenever possible, educating students on safe crossing practices, informing parents about these procedures, ensuring school bus drivers enforce them, and considering an extended stop arm to better capture the attention of other motorists.

He also suggested specific morning and afternoon guidelines for students and parents. In the morning, students should wait at least 10 feet from the edge of the roadway, look at the driver after the bus comes to a stop, cross only when signaled by the driver, and walk directly across without running. In the afternoon, students should walk 10 feet away from the bus, move 10 feet ahead of the bus or crossing gate, look at the driver, and cross only when signaled. They should always check for traffic and wait if uncertain about moving vehicles. By following these tips, you can significantly reduce the risk of crossing accidents.

I recommend highlighting in your calendars School Bus Safety Week on October 21-25. It’s a great time to bring awareness to the dangers that exist around schools and school buses. Remember to always keep your school bus drivers, students and parents informed about safe behaviors around the school bus. I wish you a safe and successful school year!

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Jeff Cassell, industry veteran and president of the School Bus Safety Company, joins Tony and Ryan to take a look at recent injuries and fatalities around school buses, and what the industry can do to improve student safety.

Read more about safety and get your free copy of the School Bus Safety Company’s Danger Zones bus driver training program.

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The post (STN Podcast E228) Freedom From Risk: How Districts Can Protect Students in the School Bus Danger Zone appeared first on School Transportation News.

This month’s issue highlights the 2024 Technology Super Users, featuring Ron Johnson who utilized his district’s technology during a nearby shooting incident. More articles discuss the use of technology to further safety of students, the back to school industry challenges and construction of transportation facilities and repair shops.

Read the full September 2024 issue.

Cover Story

Wielding Transportation Superpowers
It’s one thing to purchase technology. It’s another to utilize the solution to its fullest, especially during an emergency.

Features

Accounted For?
Keeping tabs on student whereabouts can be complicated at school bus stops. Technology meets standardized training to better account for the children both inside and outside the bus.

Eye On Expansion
What goes into a designing a new transportation facility? These transportation directors share their must-haves as they navigate various stages of construction.

Special Reports

What Do School Bus Drivers Want to Increase Safety?
Prioritizing driver wish lists when it comes to their safety and that of student riders could keep more of them behind the wheel.

Feedback
Online
Ad Index

Editor’s Take by Ryan Gray
Under the Back-to- School Microscope

Thought Leader by Robert T. Pudlewski
Understanding the Basics Of School Bus Repair Shop Design

Thought Leader by Kerry Somerville
What Do You Really Need From Technology?

Publisher’s Corner by Tony Corpin
Safety in the Danger Zone

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