WASHINGTON, D.C. — As a result of the 480,000 school buses currently in operation in the U.S., more than 2.3 billion gallons of fuel are spared each year, resulting in a net savings of more than $8 billion in fuel costs, according to new statistics released by the American School Bus Council (ASBC).

Among the other statistics released by the ASBC:

• 17.3 million: Total number of private vehicles that would be needed to transport students currently riding on all school buses.

• 822 million gallons per year: Total fuel used by school buses.

• $3.4 billion per year: Total cost of fuel used by school buses.

• $131 per year: Cost of fuel per child transported by school bus.

• 3.1 billion gallons per year: Total fuel for cars replaced by buses

• $11.4 billion per year: Cost of fuel for cars replaced by school buses

• 62.4 billion: Total annual car mileage saved by students riding school buses.

   

• 346.6 million: Total daily car mileage saved by students riding school buses.

• 36: Average number of cars needed to transport students currently riding one school bus.

  To help school districts better understand the impact of school buses on their local community, the ASBC also unveiled a new online fuel calculator on its Website at www.americanschoolbuscouncil.com.

  The online tool offers districts the ability to calculate the anticipated economic and environmental impacts of local school bus service.