Ohio School Bus Accidents And How To Avoid Injury As Almost 2 Million Ohio School Children Return To School
It’s that time of the year when summer ends and Ohio’s children head back to school. With over 1.8 million children in Ohio schools between the ages of 5 and 19 using school buses as their primary mode of transportation, and while the importance of safety is a priority, statistics show there are bound to and Ohio school bus accidents and injuries. Last year about 15,000 Ohio school buses were used to transport children to and from school, sports and field trips. Records show that Ohio experienced 1571 school bus accidents, where 288 resulted in injuries and 8 resulted in fatalities. While those statics are low, they are still to high when our children are involved.
Ohio school bus accidents seem to occur most often during times of low visibility, such as at night and during rain or snow. While we are not there yet, ice and wet roads can also contribute to a higher chance of accidents. Always give a school bus extra space during rainy or icy conditions to make sure you avoid crashing into the bus or any nearby children. Take care to watch out for children more during inclement weather, as children may be hard to spot if it is raining, dark, or snowing. Take particular care during these times to avoid Ohio school bus crashes.
Statistics show that most children who are killed in school bus crashes are children between the ages of 4 and 7. The children are often hit by busses or by motorists who failed to stop. In Ohio, it is illegal to pass a stopped bus when it has an extended stop sign or flashing lights. The busses use these signals during loading and unloading to help children stay safe. Cars on both side of the road must stop for busses unloading and loading. Keep your car at least 10 feet away from a school bus at all times to help further reduce the risk of school bus accidents. [http://www.asirt.org/Portals/0/ENewsletters2012/10_12_October2012/Back_to_School_Safety_Tips_for_Motorists.pdf, August 2015] [http://www.publicsafety.ohio.gov/links/2014CrashFacts.pdf, August 2015]
Use the following tips to reduce your risk of a school bus accident even further:
- Always remain alert in school zones and around busses. Give the bus a wide area of clearance to turn and stop. Collisions with busses can cause serious injury and death.
- Always obey laws regarding school zone speeds and stopping when a bus has flashing lights. Wait several seconds after the lights stop flashing to make sure no children are in the road before moving again.
- Do not ever pass a school bus on the right.
- Don’t block crosswalks when you are stopped at a light.
- Instruct children on how to look for cars and avoid danger when getting on and off a school bus.
- Make sure children always cross the road at crosswalks and wear reflective clothing during rain, snow, or the dark when waiting at a school bus stop early in the morning or at dusk when the sun first starts to set.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, school busses are some of the safest modes of travel for children. However, dangerous school bus accidents can still occur and school bus injuries affect hundreds of Ohio children every year. More children are hurt getting on and off the school bus than they are while riding the bus, so motorists should take care during school hours and when near a school bus to ensure that they do not hurt any school children or themselves in dangerous school bus accidents.
[http://www.nhtsa.gov/School-Buses]
By following these tips you can reduce your risk of getting involved in a dangerous or deadly Ohio school bus accident this school year. Caution, knowledge, and patience will help. If your child is involved in a school bus accident we to advise you seek medical attention and contact a local Ohio personal injury attorney to help with making sure your bills are paid and the correct actions are taken.
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