Avoiding School Bus Pedestrian Accidents to Start the School Year
Labor Day weekend marks the traditional end of summer and beginning of the school year in America. While start dates are traditionally staggered across various schools and districts, it’s fair to say that many of our area’s school-aged children are dreading the return of tests and homework, buzzing with anticipation for reunions with friends and extracurricular activities, or some combination of the two. A new school year means a crucial change to our collective morning commutes. Schools mean school buses. We’ve previously covered school bus safety and tragic school bus accidents on the Malloy Law offices blog, but today we’d like to offer some pedestrian safety advice for parents whose children ride the bus to school. Informing your kids about the dangers of crossing the street in front of a school bus can protect our community. Today’s Malloy Law blog post will cover school bus pedestrian accidents.
Statistics Around School Bus Pedestrian Accidents
School bus crashes remain, mercifully, quite rare. However, as is often the case in a large and populous country like the United States, the scale of the populations involved means that even rare accidents can cause significant annual casualties. According to the National Safety Council, 11,600 people were injured in school bus accidents in 2023, with 128 killed. Out of those totals, less than five hundred of those injuries were pedestrians, and 24 were fatalities.
However, this represents a significant year over year increase, almost 100% from the previous year’s pedestrian fatalities. In fact, 2023 saw this tragic statistic reach highs not seen since 2014. Each and every one of these deaths is a unique tragedy, and it is in all of our interest to reduce this number as close to zero as is possible.
Tips to Keep Students Safe at the Bus Stop
Children who ride the bus to school should understand basic traffic safety rules before their first trip. Because of a bus’s height and size, drivers may have blind spots that reduce visibility, increasing the danger around loading zones. Its weight also means any collision with a pedestrian can have serious consequences.
To stay safe, children should leave about ten feet of space in front of the bus and make eye contact with the driver before crossing. If something is dropped near or under the bus, they should never try to retrieve it without first alerting the driver to ensure the bus remains stopped.
Parents can help by familiarizing their children with the location of the bus stop and making sure they arrive at least five minutes before the scheduled pickup. A little preparation goes a long way in keeping everyone safe.
Tips for Drivers Around School Buses
Pedestrian safety is always a collaborative effort. One ill-informed, rushed, or aggrieved driver can cause a tragedy, even if pedestrians do all they can to obey the rules of the road and create a safe environment.
Drivers should always remember that passing a stopped school bus that’s loading or unloading passengers is illegal, no matter which direction you’re traveling. But safety goes beyond the law. Extra caution and awareness around school bus stops can prevent serious accidents, even when the bus isn’t there yet.
Children waiting for the bus may get distracted and step into the street without looking. Others running late might dart across traffic to catch the bus. Drivers should also stay alert for kids walking or biking to school, especially in neighborhoods without sidewalks where they may be forced closer to the road.
It’s also smart to review your state’s rules regarding school buses. In both Maryland and Virginia, drivers must come to a complete stop when a bus displays flashing red lights and an extended stop arm, and remain stopped until the area is clear and the bus begins moving again. Maryland law also requires drivers to yield to pedestrians at crosswalks, regardless of age. Additionally, flashing yellow lights on a bus signal that it’s about to stop, so be prepared to slow down and proceed carefully.
How Malloy Law Can Help
If you or a loved one has been injured in a school bus accident, contact Malloy Law today for a free consultation. Our experienced team of attorneys is standing by to fight for you, and our dedicated support staff is standing by 24 hours a day to receive your call. Don’t face school bus pedestrian accidents alone! Contact Malloy Law today and let’s win your case.