Even though the school year is winding down, we thought it would still be a good idea to share some safety tips related to school buses. We will discuss what your charter school can do to prevent these types of accidents and explain how insurance will react in the event of a claim.

Much of the information in this article comes from the Insurance Information Institute(I.I.I.) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The NHTSA notes that there have been 1,564 deaths in school transportation-related accidents and an additional 149 pedestrian-related accidents since 1998. This equates to almost 150 deaths a year of school children!

This is why parents and school administrators must talk to the children about how they should behave at the bus stop and while on the bus.

Here are some critical school bus safety tips as provided by the NHTSA and III:

At the School Bus Stop

• Get to the bus stop at least five minutes before the bus arrives.
• When the bus approaches, stand at least three giant steps (6 feet) away from the curb and line up away from the street.
• Please wait until the bus stops, the door opens, and the driver says it is okay before stepping onto the bus. If you must cross the street in front of the bus, walk on the sidewalk or along the side of the road to a point at least five giant steps (10 feet) ahead of the bus before you cross.
• Be sure that the bus driver can see you, and you can see the bus driver.
• Use the handrails to avoid falls.
• When exiting the bus, be careful that clothing with drawstrings and book bags with straps are not caught in the handrails or doors.
• Never walk behind the bus.
• Walk at least three giant steps away from the side of the bus.

On the School Bus

A school bus driver’s number one interest is safety. Drivers rely on students to be on their best behavior, so they can focus on driving carefully and safely. Here are some ways students can help:

Listen to the school bus driver in case there are any special instructions for the bus ride.

• Sit quietly in your seat.
• Speak quietly to the other children near you.
• Do not jump up and down, fight or tease other students or make a lot of noise. These activities can distract the bus driver and prevent them from giving proper attention to driving.

How Will My Insurance Respond If There Is An Accident?

How your insurance will respond to a school bus claim will depend upon the type of accident and where it occurred. However, most accidents will be covered under the school’s auto policy if they own their buses.

For schools that contract out the bus transportation, the insurance policy provided by the school bus company will respond first. To avoid potential problems, wee recommend the school be added as an additional insured to the transportation company’s bus policy.

Any claim involving children and a school bus will be costly, so you must carry the proper insurance limits.   (Most states require their school buses to be registered with the Department of Transportation and have a minimum of $5,000,000 in insurance.)

If you have any additional questions on protecting your kids and school from these claims, please get in touch with our office anytime.