NHTSA report outlines school transportation crashes

Washington – An average of 137 people were killed in a school transportation-related crash each year between 2001 and 2010, according to a recent report (.pdf file) from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The report defined a school transportation-related crash as a crash involving a school bus – or a non-school bus functioning as a school bus – transporting children to or from school or school-related activities.

Researchers tracked school transportation crashes from 2001 to 2010 for occupants of the bus, pedestrians and occupants of other vehicles. Among the findings:

• More than two-thirds of school-age pedestrians (younger than 19) killed in a school transportation crash were struck by a school bus.
• 40 percent of children pedestrians killed in school transportation crashes were between 5 and 7 years old.
• About 7 percent of people killed in school transportation crashes were occupants of a school transportation vehicle, 21 percent were pedestrians and 72 percent were occupants of other vehicles.