Bus accidents amount to 16 percent of the total number of public school claims, costing more than $7 million in losses. Although school bus accidents may result from the negligence of other drivers, too often they involve driver inattentiveness.
Numerous studies have examined driver distraction and the frequency with which distraction causes accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated in a 2012 study that 3,328 people were killed and approximately 421,000 injured due to crashes caused by distractions. Distractions came from both inside and outside the vehicle.
The most hazardous activity for automobile drivers is reaching for objects that have been dropped or are moving around the vehicle, such as purses, backpacks, and cell phones. Drivers reaching for objects within the vehicle were nine times more likely to crash than those whose attention was focused solely on their driving!
Drivers also have to deal with other distractions such as bad weather, students misbehaving on board the bus, and a myriad of other issues. Studies also identified a few other activities that can cause drivers to be distracted, including: Using a cell phone, adjusting a radio or MP3 player, adjusting vehicle/climate controls, Eating or drinking and Smoking.
Distractions also come from situations outside the bus. A joint University of North Carolina and AAA study of more than 32,000 crashes determined that external diversions, such as roadwork, construction projects, or another accident, were a considerable distraction, leading to just over 29 percent of crashes.
Public school administrators should consider the following strategies to enhance school bus driver performance:
1) Develop driver training programs and policies that address distraction.
2)Adopt a school bus safety code or code of conduct.
3) Provide students and parents with information about school bus safety and conduct policies.
4) Provide school bus drivers with additional training and resources for managing student behavior.
5) Consider employing crash avoidance technology.
While no single solution will eliminate driver distraction, school systems that pursue a combination of these strategies will help schools turn bus driver's attention back to the road.
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