Leflaw.com

Each day, 23 million students ride a school bus to and from school. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, school buses are the safest motor vehicles on our highways. Unfortunately, however, school buses are not 100 percent safe. In fact, school buses pose a variety of unique dangers to school-age children.

The most dangerous part of a school bus ride is getting on and off the bus. The loading and unloading area is called the "danger zone." This zone extends 10 feet from the front of the bus, 10 feet on each side of the bus, and behind the bus. When children walk or stand within the "danger zone," they are at the greatest risk of not being seen by the bus driver and, consequently, being struck by the bus. Each year, an average of 14 school-age children are struck and killed by school buses. Most often, these accidents occur when young children between the ages of five and seven walk or stand in front of the bus.

Another danger our children face while getting on and off a school bus is being struck by another motorist’s vehicle. Each year, an average of seven children are killed by motorists who fail to observe traffic safety rules around school buses.

In addition to pedestrian-type accidents, school bus crashes do occur. Between 1990 and 2000, school buses have been involved in 96 crashes where at least one bus occupant died. The most common type of fatal school bus crash is when the bus strikes a fixed object. Other common types of school bus crashes include overturns and collisions with trains.