After last year’s tragic school bus accident in Knoxville that cost the lives of two young girls and a teacher’s aide, attention to bus safety is at an all time high for both school districts and parents. Even with more stringent screening protocols for drivers and better due diligence requirements for contractors, accidents happen.
Within the first week of the current 2015-2016 school year, there were already two accidents involving big yellow buses. Three students were hurt when the shoulder of the road gave out under a bus in Lincoln County. Luckily, no one was injured in the second incident in Maynardville, in which a driver over-corrected from a soft shoulder and drove into a ditch.
Keeping your kids safe
In the past, we’ve discussed the various safety features and merits of school buses. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration asserts that seatbelts aren’t necessary because of compartmentalization and soft surfaces on buses, and their large size and bright color make them obvious to even the most inattentive drivers. However, as safe as school buses are, you can keep your child even safer by following these tips:
- Meet your child’s bus driver. It helps to know who is taking care of your child on their way to school. If you’ll be walking your child to the bus stop daily, you may also be able to perceive is something is wrong if you know the driver.
- Buckle up. Children learn by observing. Make sure that you and your children buckle up every time you get in a vehicle, and encourage them to do the same should they end up on a smaller school bus that does have seat belts in it.
- Stay clear, and make sure you can see the driver. If you can’t see the driver, the driver can’t see you. Make sure your children stand well clear of a moving bus, and only cross the street in front of the bus.
- Look both ways, and be aware of traffic. While drivers are legally required to stop for a school bus with a sign out, your children should still look for oncoming traffic before crossing the road. This goes double for anyone driving around a school bus. Even if you think it’s safe to go on, drive slowly and be aware of children.
If you notice any changes in your child’s bus driver, or you child is particularly unwilling to get on the bus, contact the school immediately. The lives of other’s children may depend on your alertness as well. Thankfully, there have been no serious injuries so far this year, but it pays to be prepared. If your child is injured on a school bus or at school, contact RML today for a free consultation at our Nashville, Gallatin or Knoxville office.
