Riding the school bus can often be a right of passage. A child is old enough and brave enough to climb up the steps, take a seat and join the other kids on their way to school without mom or dad. But what about the buses — are they a safe form of transportation for our children, at any age?

One of the responsibilities of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is establishing federal motor vehicle safety standards. The goal is to reduce the number of deaths and injuries from motor vehicle accidents, including crashes involving school buses.

NHTSA regulations and enforcement have helped to make school buses the safest way for children to travel to and from school. The federal agency now requires new school buses to meet the same safety standards as all other passenger motor vehicles.  These include improved emergency exits, roof structure, seating and fuel systems, and bus body joint integrity.  The newer buses are built with safety as one of their highest priorities and include strict standards for strength, cleanliness and maintenance. Even school bus drivers are required to undergo training in both security and emergency medical response. Drivers are routinely tested for drug and alcohol use to help ensure child safety.

So how safe are school buses compared to all other motor vehicles? School buses are one of the safest forms of transportation in the United States.  Here is what NHTSA reports:

• More than 42,000 people are killed in traffic accidents in the U.S. every year.
• There are approximately 450,000 public school buses on the road each year and they travel about 4.3 billion miles.
• School buses transport 23.5 million children to and from school and school-related activities annually.
• Each year, an average of 6 school age children who are school bus passengers die in school bus crashes throughout the U.S..
• Approximately 17 fatalities per year involve pedestrians, with about one-third of these resulting from drivers illegally passing a stopped school bus.
• Approximately 450 deaths of school age children are killed in auto accidents during normal school travel hours from teenager is drivers.
• Approximately 184 school age children are killed in auto accidents during normal school travel hours in auto accidents with adult drivers.

It seems clear that, with the improved safety and integrity of school buses and higher training and performance requirements for the school bus drivers, sending your children to school by bus is one of the safest choices.

You can be part of the solution. Early in the morning and middle of the afternoon are very busy times for dropping kids off at school, and they can also be dangerous times. People are rushing, everyone is busy, and traffic can get very congested. Everyone needs to concentrate on making this a time that is free of auto related accidents. Children’s safety is everyone’s responsibility.

Drivers have a more difficult time seeing small children, making kids particularly vulnerable. Creating a Drop Off and Pick Up Safety Initiative at your school can address children’s safety while going to and from school. It can also reduce the risk of auto accidents.

Reasons to start a Drop-off and Pick-up initiative:

• Creates a designated zone for drivers to drop-off or pick-up their children.
• Reduces traffic congestion around the school by ensuring cars do not park illegally.
• Provides adult supervision for students being dropped off and picked up from school.
• Allows smaller children to stay secured in the car while school age children are dropped off and picked up.
• Teaches road safety and safe passenger rules to parents and children.

How to set up an initiative?

• Ensure the school community supports the initiative by talking with the principal.
• Build a list of volunteers to be zone supervisors.
• Develop policies and procedures to administer the initiative.
• Fully understand all issues regarding the responsibility of students and volunteers.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that 44 percent of fatalities involving back-over incidents include children under five. The NHTSA also estimates that an average 292 fatalities and 18,000 injuries occur each year as a result of back-over incidents involving all vehicles.

While in the driveway and in public places, parents can prevent a pedestrian accident and keep their children safe by following a few safety tips:

• Check that play areas and gates are latched and closed whenever children are outside.
• Do not allow children to play near or behind parked cars, even if empty.
• Teach children safe street crossing guidelines, by crossing only at crosswalks, not in the middle of the street. Look both ways, and always hold the hand of an adult. Use the same rules for parking lots.
• Walk around and behind a car before driving away. Do not give your children a reason to run behind the car – remove toys and sports equipment off the driveway.
• Know where your kids are before you leave, and if possible, have another adult properly supervising them while you drive away.
• Be careful when dropping off children at school or other busy parking lots. Watch to ensure they arrive at the sidewalk or building safely.
• Remember that the blind zone in an SUV or pickup can be especially large. Use extreme care.

In an attempt to reduce incidents by policy, the U.S. Department of Transportation has proposed a new safety regulation to help eliminate blind zones behind vehicles that can hide pedestrians, especially toddlers and young children.

The proposal requires a standard larger field of view, which may influence automobile manufacturers to install rear mounted video cameras and in-vehicle displays. At least 10 percent of new vehicles produced must meet the new standards by September 2012.

If you or a loved one was seriously injured in a Michigan pedestrian accident, talk with an experienced Michigan pedestrian accident lawyer to determine your rights.

With Daylight Savings Time ending recently, drivers may have a difficult time seeing pedestrians as dusk sets in earlier than usual. Adjusting to less light earlier in the evening may take more time with driving reaction time as well as adaptation to sleep schedules. As a result, more pedestrian traffic incidents leading to death or injury may occur.

According to the National Traffic Highway Safety Administration, 25 percent of the 4,902 pedestrian deaths last year occurred between 4 p.m. – 8 p.m., while another 13 percent occurred 4 a.m. – 8 a.m. Nearly 59,000 pedestrians were injured in 2009 from a traffic-related incident.

The most effective method to avoid motor vehicle accident death or injury due to low visibility includes prevention. The NTHSA advises drivers use the following tips to ensure traffic safety:

• Slow down to allow for a greater reaction time and to see pedestrians. It takes more time to see a pedestrian in the dark than during daylight hours.
• Pedestrians may not be able to see or hear your vehicle due to headphones, hats, earmuffs or road obstructions, such as trees. Take caution and allow time for their crossing.
• As the weather turns cool, make sure your windshield is defrosted and defogged before driving. Check that your washer fluid is properly filled for the upcoming winter season. Ensure your mirrors are also clear of any frost or debris.

Pedestrians should also take precautions to stay safe at night. These tips will help anyone traveling after daylight:

• Attach reflective tape to your belongings, such as your coat, backpack, purses and other belongings. Or, carry a flashlight as you walk. This will make you more visible to drivers.
• Check both ways before crossing, even with an appropriate traffic signal. Drivers may not be paying attention to the sidewalks at night.
• Cross at crosswalks and walk on sidewalks whenever possible. If a sidewalk isn’t available, walk facing traffic to make sure drivers see you.

A serious motor vehicle accident involving a pedestrian can significantly change the pedestrian accident victim’s life — temporarily or even permanently. The consequences of serious injury can result in significant wage loss, medical bills and other repercussions.

If you or a loved one was seriously injured in a Michigan pedestrian accident, talk with an experienced Michigan pedestrian accident lawyer to determine your rights.