The accident occurred around 9 a.m. on Monday, August 16th, along Hallisey Drive, in Roseville. According to Roseville police, the accident report stated a black Dodge Charger struck the school bus carrying 13 students and the bus driver. It is currently unclear what caused the accident, but the right front side of the bus was severely damaged. Luckily the driver of the bus and the 13 students were uninjured from the crash. The driver of the Dodge Charger was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. As students across America begin their return to campus, drivers and commuters are urged to practice extreme caution while on the road to protect these students and their respective forms of transportation.
School Bus Accident Statistics
School buses are among the most secure forms of transportation for children on the road to school. A child is much safer driving in a school bus than in a passenger vehicle. Per year, around four to six children die in school-bus-related accidents. This number is meager compared to the 2018 statistics of the 636 children who died in motor vehicle traffic crashes.
School Bus Traffic Safety
The greatest threat to children’s safety is not riding the bus but more so the act of approaching the bus stop or exiting the bus. Below you will find some tips and safety advice for drivers to help make school bus transportation safe for children and others.
- While backing out of your driveway, always look behind your car for children that are walking, biking, or for busses that may be heading in your direction.
- When driving in neighborhoods near or within proximity to school zones, watch out for young children who may be walking or biking. Children are usually uninformed of the rules of the road. Therefore, it is the driver’s responsibility to operate their vehicle following traffic laws safely.
- Drive slow. Watch for kids walking in the streets, especially if the road has no sidewalks.
- Be alert at all times. Children arriving at a bus stop late may run without warning into the street without looking for oncoming traffic.
- Learn school bus and traffic safety laws in your state or county.
- Understand the flashing light alert systems that bus drivers use to alert motorists
- Yellow flashing lights indicate that the school bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. Motor vehicle operators should slow down and prepare to stop.
- Red flashing lights and extended stop signs indicate that the bus has come to a complete stop and children are getting on or off. Motorists must obey these stop sign signals and stop their cars until the red lights stop flashing and the extendable stop signs are retracted. Once the bus is moving forward again, drivers can begin to move their vehicles.
The school bus accident in Roseville on August 13th could have resulted in severe personal injury and even death. Thankfully, this wasn’t the case. However, suppose you or a loved one has suffered severe personal injured or died due to the actions of a negligent driver. In that case, you may be entitled to legal compensation.
To get started on the path to recovery and settlement, you should seek help from our qualified car accident attorney in Sacramento at Eason and Tambornini, A Law Corporation. Our dedicated attorneys will fight to represent you on your behalf to obtain the legal compensation you and your family deserve. Visit our website or give us a call today to schedule your FREE no-obligation consultation.
