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The National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) announced National School Bus Safety Week is from October 18–22, 2021. The safety week is held the third full week in October every year and is designed to educate parents, students, teachers, motorists, school bus operators, school administrators, and other interested parties in the importance of school bus safety.

Stanford Children’s Health says about 24 percent of student injuries involve getting on or off the school bus. Most of the children who tragically are killed are 5 to 7 years old and are hit in the “danger zone” around a school bus. The danger zone is around 10 feet in front of the bus, 10 feet behind it, and 10 feet to either side of it. There are more school-age pedestrians killed in the afternoon than in the morning, with 38 percent of the fatalities occurring between 3 and 4 p.m.

The 2018 National School Bus Loading and Unloading survey reported that students who were departing a school bus on their way home attributed to 50 percent of all tragic fatalities during the years 2016 - 2017. The survey was a collection of fatality accident reports provided by state agencies that were responsible for school transportation and/or accident records.

Following are some safety tips for motorists from the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Department (FLHSMV):

• Be alert and watch for children especially near schools, bus stops, school buses, and in school parking lots.
• Children on bicycles can be unpredictable and can make sudden changes in direction. Be especially careful when children are present in school zones and residential areas.
• Pay extra attention to lower speed limits in school zones.
• Watch for and obey signals from school crossing guards.
• Only drive or park in authorized areas to drop off or pick up children at school.
• Motorists are required to stop when approaching a school bus that is stopped with its red lights flashing and STOP arms extended. 
• All drivers moving in either direction on a two-way street must stop for a school bus displaying a stop signal and must remain stopped until the road is clear of children AND the school bus stop arm is withdrawn.
• On a highway divided by a paved median, all drivers moving in either direction must stop for a school bus displaying a stop signal and must remain stopped until the road is clear of children AND the school bus stop arm is withdrawn.
• The only time traffic approaching an oncoming school bus does not need to stop, is if there is a raised barrier such as a concrete divider or at least five feet of unpaved space separating the lanes of traffic.
• On a highway divided by a raised barrier or an unpaved median at least 5 feet wide, drivers moving in the opposite direction do not have to stop for the bus (painted lines or pavement markings are not considered barriers). However, these motorists should slow down and watch for students loading or unloading from the bus. 

“If you or a loved one is injured in an accident involving a school bus, after seeking medical attention, please contact our experienced Fort Myers accident legal team. We dedicate ourselves to providing high-quality legal assistance to those who suffer injuries, death, and other losses, and we limit our practice specifically to personal injury and wrongful death cases so that we can fully concentrate our efforts on gaining compensation for those who have suffered the most. There are no costs or attorney fees until we receive a monetary recovery for you, and we are available 24/7,” said Fort Myers Accident Attorney Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.

Fort Myers Accident Lawyer Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one percent (1%) of Florida attorneys. He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida. For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll-free at 1.888.477.4839, or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com. Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information. You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County at 239.793.7748.