There were 1,236 fatal school transportation-related crashes from 2001 to 2010, according to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The agency recently released a new edition of its School Transportation-Related Crashes report, covering the 10 years from 2001 to 2010.
During that time period, the 1,236 fatal school transportation-related crashes accounted for 0.34% of the total 363,839 fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes.
NHTSA defines a school transportation-related crash as “a crash which involves, either directly or indirectly, a school bus body vehicle, or a non-school bus functioning as a school bus, transporting children to or from school or school-related activities.”
From 2001 to 2010, 1,368 people died in school transportation-related crashes, which is an average of 137 fatalities per year. The majority (72%) of those people were occupants of other vehicles involved. Occupants of school transportation vehicles accounted for 7% of the fatalities, while the remaining 21% were non-occupants — pedestrians, bicyclists, etc.
According to NHTSA, an average of 18 school-age children die in school transportation-related crashes each year. On average, six of those are occupants of school transportation vehicles. The other 12 are pedestrians killed by school transportation vehicles or other vehicles involved in school bus-related crashes.
In 2010 specifically, there were 129 fatalities in school transportation-related crashes. Of those, 16 (12%) were occupants of school transportation vehicles: six drivers and 10 passengers.
To view NHTSA’s full report, go here.
Other recent news related to school transportation fatalities:
• Tractor-trailer, school bus crash kills 4
• Bus driver cited for careless driving in fatal crash