When it comes to the safety of children, one particularly important thing is ensuring their well-being while traveling to and from school. School buses are, of course, vital to the transportation of countless students.
However, accidents involving school buses and reckless drivers who disregard stop signs or bus stops can have devastating consequences. By exploring the importance of driver safety around school buses, you can know how best to respond if you or your child suffers an injury due to a negligent driver’s actions.
Understanding the law
In many places, laws regarding school bus safety are strict. When a school bus stops to pick up or drop off students, drivers in both directions must stop as well. This law is in place to protect the children’s safety. Ignoring these laws not only endangers lives but can also lead to legal consequences for the offending driver.
School bus safety tips
You can do your part to maintain a safe environment and protect your family by keeping in mind a few safety tips when driving near a school bus:
- Know the rules: Familiarize yourself with your local traffic laws concerning school bus safety.
- Stay alert: Keep an eye out for flashing lights, extended stop signs and children waiting at bus stops.
- Maintain a safe following distance: When driving behind a school bus, maintain a safe following distance. This gives you ample time to stop if the bus suddenly halts to pick up or drop off students.
If you witness others disregarding school bus safety rules, consider reporting the incident to local authorities and raising awareness within your community.
The National Safety Council reports that school bus-related crashes killed 108 people nationwide in 2021. This includes incidents in which drivers behaved negligently when school children were getting on or off the bus. Spreading awareness of driver safety around school buses can help prevent pointless tragedies. If a loved one or someone you know has been injured by someone driving erratically around school bus zones, talking to a skilled personal injury attorney is a good first step.
