Welcome to the inaugural edition of “Stats and Trends,” your monthly snapshot of key data shaping the school transportation landscape. Each month, we’ll spotlight timely statistics and insights from authoritative sources like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to help industry professionals, policymakers, and educators stay informed and proactive. This month, we focus on school bus safety—highlighting both the strengths of current systems and areas where vigilance remains critical.
School Bus Safety by the Numbers (provided by NHTSA)
School Bus Safety Overview:
• Safest Mode of Transport: School buses are among the safest vehicles on the road, with less than 1 percent of all traffic fatalities involving children on school transportation vehicles.
• Fatality Rate Comparison: The fatality rate for school buses is 0.2 per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT), compared to 1.5 per 100 million VMT for cars.
Recent Trends:
• Increase in Fatalities: There was a 23 percent increase in fatalities in school-transportation-related traffic crashes, from 104 in 2022 to 128 in 2023.
School-Age Children Fatalities (2006–2015):
• Total Fatalities: 301 school-age children died in school-transportation-related crashes.
o Occupants of School Transportation Vehicles: 54 fatalities.
o Occupants of Other Vehicles: 137 fatalities.
o Pedestrians: 102 fatalities.
o Pedalcyclists: 8 fatalities.
Time of Day for Fatalities:
• Peak Hours: More school-age pedestrians were killed from 6 to 7 a.m., 7 to 8 a.m., and from 3 to 4 p.m. than any other hours of the day.
Crash Impact Points:
• Front Impact: 45 percent of fatal school-transportation-related crashes involved impacts to the front of the school transportation vehicle.
• Right Side Impact: 13 percent involved impacts to the right side.
Illegal Passing of School Buses:
• Enforcement Data: Automated camera systems in Allentown and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, issued 5,890 and 2,090 citations respectively during a one-year project period for illegal passing of school buses.
These statistics underscore the importance of continued vigilance and proactive measures to ensure the safety of children in and around school transportation. By staying informed and adhering to safety protocols, we can work together to maintain and improve the safety record of school buses.
For more detailed information and resources on school bus safety, visit NHTSA’s School Bus Safety page: nhtsa.gov