Many parents never think twice when they put their child on the bus in the morning. Instead, they assume that their child will make it to and from school in a safe manner.
Unfortunately, this does not always happen. In 2016, for example, five people, including one student, were killed in metro Atlanta motor vehicle accidents involving a school bus. Additionally, injuries in such accidents are on the rise, reaching more than 330 in 2016.
For one reason or another, some accidents in the metro Atlanta area are not being recorded and made available to authorities. A recent study by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution found that districts do not always keep thorough records in regards to accidents. Furthermore, there is evidence that some school district officials fail to enforce their own policies.
This is a big deal for many reasons, including the fact that it puts children at risk. Get this: More than 4,000 bus drivers make their way throughout the metro Atlanta area during the school year. Additionally, these drivers are responsible for transporting a total of approximately 300,000 students.
According to recent data, school buses in the area are involved in roughly 100 accidents each month.
When school districts fail to report bus accidents, it may mean that a dangerous or unqualified driver remains on the road.
In the event that your child is injured in a school bus accident, don’t wait to take him or her for a medical examination. Along with this, learn more about the crash, including the cause. It’s possible that negligence on behalf of the driver or school distract lead to the accident.
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “Metro Atlanta school districts’ failure to use bus accident data endangers students,” Marlon A. Walker, March 31, 2017