Statistically, school buses are the safest way to transport school children.  Yet more injuries and fatalities occur outside of or near a school bus because a motorist has failed to obey the stop-arm warning or to follow local traffic laws.

• From 2011 and 2020, there were 1.6 times more fatalities among pedestrians (183) than occupants of school buses (113) in school-bus-related crashes.
• A total of 218 school-age children (18 and younger) died in school-bus-related crashes during that period, either as occupants of school buses or other vehicles, or on foot or bike.
• Of the 218 deaths, 85 were children who were walking.

School bus design is meant to be safer than any passenger vehicle in avoiding crashes and preventing injuries. Teaching children to follow safety rules on the bus is just as important as informing drivers about the laws regarding school buses.

Use these resources to provide your community with safety messages to keep children safe on and off the school bus: www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/get-materials/school-bus-safety