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WASHINGTON, D.C. — The number and rate of deaths on the nation’s roads increased in 2016, according to recently released federal data.
The statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), collected from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, show that there were 37,461 traffic fatalities in calendar year 2016, up 5.6% from the 2015 total of 35,485.
The traffic fatality rate also increased, according to NHTSA. The number of vehicle miles traveled on U.S. roads in 2016 was up 2.2%, and the fatality rate was 1.18 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled — a 2.6% increase from the 2015 rate of 1.15.
NHTSA reported that distracted driving and drowsy driving fatalities declined, while deaths related to other “reckless behaviors” — including speeding, alcohol impairment, and not wearing seat belts — continued to increase.
Also included in NHTSA’s 2016 data are school bus fatalities. Eight occupants age 18 or younger were killed in crashes in school buses or special-use school buses in 2016, up from five in 2015 and three in 2014.
The NHTSA report doesn’t specify the locations of those school bus occupant fatalities, but, as previously reported, six students were killed in the November 2016 school bus crash in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Meanwhile, according to the NHTSA data, five pedestrians age 18 or younger were fatally struck by school buses in 2016. The report does not indicate how many students were fatally struck by vehicles passing school buses in 2016.
At least 100,000 people need to sign a petition, which calls for penalties such as jail time and a 90-day driver's license suspension for motorists who illegally pass stopped school buses.
An official ceremony with a work of art, refresher training, and a visit from a mascot were some of the ways school transportation providers and suppliers marked NAPT’s National School Bus Safety Week.
Tammy Cummings, a bus driver and safety trainer for Greenville County (S.C.) Schools, is the winner of the first AMF-Bruns National Special-Needs School Bus Driver Of The Year Award.
The National Congress on School Transportation’s writing committees are seeking subject matter experts and public comment as they prepare for the 2020 Congress.
A training program shows Canastota Central (N.Y.) School District transportation staff how to respond to active shooters and what signs to look for in students.
Christopher Martinez of California allegedly steps onto the school bus with students aboard, and says he is driving to a mission, police say. He is charged with attempted carjacking.
A school bus fire demonstration, sessions and awards addressing safety and training, and a trade show showcasing the latest technology were some of the draws at this year's NAPT and NASDPTS conferences.
Jason Johnson of Arkansas attempts to stop the bus from rolling down a hill after the air brake releases, but is killed while trying to get back on board.
A driver with Madison (Ohio) Local Schools was able to pull the bus over to a safe location and properly evacuate students.
The Indiana driver who allegedly passed a school bus and hit and killed three students tells investigators that she didn’t see the bus or the students until it was too late.
A 9-year-old boy in Mississippi and a 7-year-old boy in Pennsylvania are hit and killed by vehicles while waiting at their school bus stops.
The latest national report shows that in three of the fatal incidents, the school bus had its stop arm extended and its red lights activated when it was passed by a vehicle that struck a student.
The company has updated its Danger Zones Training Program to re-emphasize the need for bus drivers to ensure that students are following proper crossing procedures.
Alyssa Shepherd of Indiana allegedly ran a stop arm and hit four students, killing three and seriously injuring another.
The nine winners of the 2018 Don Carnahan Memorial Grant are eligible to receive up to $50,000 in Zonar hardware.
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Richard Skibitski
| about 13 months agoWith so much garbage on the dashboard these days it's no surprise. People are spending more time fooling with gadgets than they are looking out the windshields.