With the new school year starting, Buncombe County officials are calling on parents, caregivers, motorists and students to make safety a top priority around bus stops. While school buses are designed and built to transport children to and from school safely, they’re not completely without risk, and there are some important concerns to discuss with children and drivers to improve overall bus stop safety this year. WLOS ABC News Channel 13 recently reported on the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office’s safety message to drivers around Asheville. They’re reminding drivers in Buncombe County to exercise caution wherever children might be present, and especially around bus stops.
School Transportation Injury Stats
- From 2005 to 2014, there were 1,332 people of all ages killed in school-transportation crashes.
- On average each year, 19 school-aged children die in school-transportation related traffic crashes.
- More school-aged pedestrians are killed between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. than at any other time of day.
- Nearly two-thirds of the school-aged pedestrians fatally injured in school-transportation related crashes were struck by school buses or vehicles functioning as school buses.
The Danger Zone
Parents are encouraged to talk to children about the school bus “danger zone.” This is the 10-foot imaginary bubble that extends all the way around the bus. This is the area where children are most likely to be injured or killed. Kids are reminded to stand at least six feet away (three giant steps) from the approaching school bus and always wait until the driver says it’s safe to board. When getting off of the bus, children need to cross the street in front of the bus and always make sure the bus driver sees them. Finally, children are also reminded to always look out for oncoming traffic when approaching or leaving the bus, because drivers in the vicinity may be distracted.
Bus Stop Accidents in Asheville
Bus stop accidents can be devastating, catastrophic or worse, and with the school year starting up, drivers in and around Buncombe County need to be on the lookout for small pedestrians. If your child has been injured in a bus stop accident in or around the Asheville area, contact Davis Law Group, P.A. at 888-773-8388 for a free case consultation.