School Buses: Why They’re the Safest Way for Kids to Travel to School

School Buses: Why They’re the Safest Way for Kids to Travel to School

When sending kids off to school, parents entrust the school bus and its driver to get their child there safely. They rely on these vehicles for a reason — they are one of the safest modes of transportation on the road. 

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), “students are about 70 times more likely to get to school safely when taking a bus instead of traveling by car.” 

Why? Because school buses are the most regulated vehicles on the road, according to the NHTSA. They are also designed to prevent crashes and injuries, and there are laws in place to protect students. 

School Bus Regulations 

There are specific federal regulations school buses must follow to ensure students are transported to school safely. According to the NHTSA, some of these include: 

• Passengers must be seated entirely within the confines of the school bus while it is in motion. 
• The interior of large buses must provide occupant protection, so students are protected without the need to wear a seat belt.  
• Buses need to have strong, closely spaced seats that have energy-absorbing seat backs.  
• While state and local governments determine how school buses are identified, the NHTSA recommends that buses be painted “National School Bus Glossy Yellow” and have other uniform identifying characteristics so motorists can quickly identify it as a school bus. 

School Bus Designs 

School buses are designed to look unique so they can be identified as school buses by other motorists. They are also designed with specific safety features, including flashing red lights, cross-view mirrors, and stop-sign arms. The interior is also outfitted with protective seating. 

School Bus Laws 

There are specific laws in place to protect school buses and students. These include making it illegal for vehicles to pass a school bus when it is picking up or dropping off children. These traffic laws help ensure students’ safety while they are on the bus, as well as entering and exiting it.  

To learn how RTA Fleet Management Software can help make your school bus fleet more efficient, contact us today to schedule a demo or start a free trial!