HOW TO AVOID A SACRAMENTO SCHOOL BUS ACCIDENT?

Each day, millions of students ride the school bus to and from school, including students in Sacramento County. While parents may look forward to children returning to school, most drivers do not look forward to the additional school traffic, including the school buses.

Sadly, some students will be injured this year in school bus accidents. School bus safety is the responsibility of all parents, motorists, school bus drivers, and school districts. Therefore, it is a good time to review some of the school bus safety times that everyone should keep in mind as we begin another school year.

School Bus Safety Tips for Drivers

It is very important that you watch for school buses and take steps to avoid a school bus accident. As a driver, you should:

• Avoid tailgating. You should give school buses extra room on the road so that you have additional time to stop if the bus makes a sudden stop. School buses make frequent stops, so you need to keep this in mind when following a school bus.
• When children are loading and unloading, do not pass the school bus. Always look for yellow and red flashing lights in addition to the red stop sign extended from the side of the bus. Regardless of how long it takes, be patient.
• Watch for children. Children are unpredictable. They run out into the road or dart around the bus without warning. Drivers need to be very cautious and remain alert when approaching a bus stop.
• Slow down. You are required to slow down when driving through school zones. However, you should also slow down when driving through areas where children are waiting for buses. Again, children can dart into the road without warning. Slow down and remain alert.

School Bus Safety Tips for Parents

Parents should also assume a proactive role in protecting their children on the school bus. Safety rules parents should discuss with their children include:

• Wait until the bus comes to a complete stop before approaching the bus to get onto the bus.
• Always obey the school bus driver’s instructions.
• No horseplay or roughhousing at the bus stop.
• Remain seated while on the bus.
• Do not dart into the road or attempt to cross the road as the bus is approaching.
• If you drop something, wait until the bus leaves or tell the school bus driver before attempting to retrieve the item.

Parents should also inquire about the school bus driver’s qualifications and training. Parents have a right to ensure that bus drivers have proper training and the school district has performed due diligence to ensure they hire safe, qualified school bus drivers.

Contact a Sacramento Injury Attorney for More Information

If your child is injured in a school bus accident, contact our Sacramento injury attorneys for a free consultation. Remember, school bus injuries are not limited to school bus accidents. If your child is injured getting on or off the bus or while riding on a school bus, you should contact our office to discuss a claim.

For a free case review, contact The Tiemann Law Firm by calling (916) 999-9000 or by visiting our website.