We’ve come a long way

If you look back over the record of school bus loading/unloading fatalities, which has been compiled annually for nearly four decades, you may be alarmed.

In 1970-71, the first school year reported, 75 children in the U.S.were killed by their own school bus or a passing vehicle. While that is the highest national total on record, it’s not too much higher than those of the years that followed: 62 (’71-72), 58 (’72-73), 73 (’73-74), 51 (’74-75), 40 (’75-76), 45 (’76-77), 54 (’77-78).

Compare those lofty figures to the ’07-08 school year’s national total, which was just released by the Kansas State Department of Education: five fatalities. In the previous school year, ’06-07, the total was seven. Before that, it was 13 (’05-06), 20 (’04-05), 9 (’03-04), 12 (’02-03), 13 (’01-02), 9 (’00-01).

These numbers show how far the pupil transportation community has come in enhancing driver and student training, public awareness, and bus safety equipment over the years.

But as I’ve heard many in the industry say, one fatality is one too many. Complacency is not an option. We must continue to do all we can to bring the total down to zero.

Until next time,

Tom

---------------------------

Thomas McMahon

Executive Editor

SCHOOL BUS FLEET

(310) 533-2551

---------------------------