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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that, on average, about 134 people die in school vehicle-related crashes each year. Of these casualties, 8 percent are riding on school buses. Pedestrians, bicyclists, and others outside the bus account for 21 percent of fatalities.

Estimates from the American School Bus Council show that every year school buses transport more than 23 million children to and from school. These buses travel approximately 5.7 billion miles annually.

The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) says that in 2017 more than 104,000 school bus drivers observed 77,972 vehicles illegally passing school buses in a single day. This is a rate of more than 14 million violations occurring in a school year.

On December 11, 2017, the Florida Highway Patrol reported a crash involving a Lee County school bus and an SUV on Buckingham Road in Fort Myers. Even though no children were involved, the bus driver and SUV driver were both injured, with the SUV driver suffering traumatic injuries. The FHP press release said the SUV driver crossed the center of the road when he dropped his cell phone and reached to grab it; he hit the front of the school bus. The 55-year-old SUV driver was charged with driving on the wrong side of the road, not wearing a seatbelt, and not having insurance.

Most state laws require vehicles on both sides of a road, without a median, to stop and remain stopped while school bus stop arms and flashing red lights are deployed. Fifteen states allow local governments or school districts to use cameras to capture images and issue tickets for drivers who illegally pass stopped school buses, according to NCSL.

Florida law says drivers are required to always stop for a school bus with its lights flashing except if they are driving on a divided highway in the opposite direction of the school bus and there is at least five feet of unpaved space, such as a raised median, or a physical barrier, such as a concrete abutment, separating the roadway on which the driver is traveling.

Even though Florida is one of the states that implemented safety belt requirements for school buses, injuries continue to happen in school-bus-related accidents. These accidents happen for many reasons, including distracted driving, faulty brakes on buses, improper bus maintenance, dangerous roads and poor weather conditions.

“Schools in Lee, Collier, and Charlotte counties open in August, and the number of vehicles on our roads increases significantly. Drivers must drive responsibly and watch out for school buses and children at bus stops,” said Fort Myers Child Injury Attorney, Randall Spivey. “Should there be a school bus accident, the victims may be able to recover compensation f or current and future medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage, and other losses related to the accident. Please contact our firm should you or a loved one be injured in a school bus accident. We have the experience to assist you.”

Fort Myers Child Injuries Attorney, 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 (1%) percent 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 the 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 239.793.7748.