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School districts throughout the United States will observe National School Bus Safety Week October 17 – 21, 2022. The program is an evolving public education program for everyone to address the importance of school bus safety.  

Florida’s population is increasing, leading to a higher enrollment in schools and more new schools being built. These new schools require more school bus routes.

The Lee County School District is the 9^th largest district in Florida and the 32^nd largest in the United States, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. The district operated the 6^th largest bus fleet in Florida with 912 buses, 685 routes, and transporting over 39,000 students in the 2020-2021 school year (latest available statistics).

The Collier County School District has 256 school bus routes for approximately 20,000 students who ride buses, according to Collier County Public Schools.

Recent School Bus Accidents

WPTV reported on August 11, 2022, that for two days in a row, a different Palm Beach County school bus was rear-ended and involved in a crash. The sheriff’s office reported that in one of the accidents a gold BMW was speeding when it hit the school bus that was transporting elementary school children. Although there were no injuries in the crash, drivers are reminded that school is open, and they should be aware of school bus activity.

On August 10, 2022, a school bus that was leaving Tavares High School was rear-ended by a log truck on State Road 44. There were 40 students on the bus at the time of the crash. Lake County Fire Rescue and Lake County EMS responded. Two students were taken to the hospital for examination of minor injuries.

Every year the Florida Department of Education conducts a survey of the number of vehicles that illegally pass school buses. The numbers are in the thousands. A resident of a gated community in Estero witnessed a driver pass a stopped school bus with blinking red lights picking up students at a bus stop. This is unacceptable and illegal behavior.

All drivers on a two-way street are required by law whether they are moving in either direction to stop for school buses displaying stop signs and flashing red lights, which bus drivers use to signify they are picking up or discharging students. Drivers are to remain stopped until the stop signal is withdrawn, and all children are clear of the roadway.

The Florida Department of Education asks drivers to “Please exercise patience and caution, especially around children and school buses.”  

Here are some ABCs for School Bus Safety:

• Approaching a Stopped School Bus: When approaching a school bus that is stopped with its red lights flashing and its stop arms extended, motorists are required to STOP. 

• Be Alert for Children: Be alert and watch for children at all times, especially near schools, bus stops, school buses, and in school parking lots. 

• Concentrate on Driving: Do not drive distracted and obey all traffic laws and speed limits, paying extra attention to the lower speed limits in school zones.

Most Southwest Florida school bus accidents are the fault of impatient motorists who pass school buses and do not obey school bus stop signs and flashing red lights. Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. assists children and their families receive the compensation to which they are entitled because an at-fault driver hit them or their school bus causing injuries.

After seeking medical assistance, please contact Fort Myers School Bus Accident Lawyer Randall Spivey 24/7 at 239.337.7483, toll-free at 1.888.477.4839, or online at SpiveyLaw.com. There are no costs or attorney fees until we receive a monetary recovery for our client.