Reduce Your Speed and Stop for Pedestrians; School Is Back In Session!
Now that the back-to-school season has returned, traffic congestion will be picking up in school zones during the early morning and mid-afternoon commutes.
Because of this busy time of year, car accidents are a common occurrence, and it is up to us to learn from past statistics to ensure our families’ safety.
Should you or a loved one be involved in a school-related car accident, know that the Houston Lapeze & Johns car accident attorneys are ready to help you seek compensation.
School Transportation Accidents
School-related accidents often involve school buses, non-school related vehicles, and pedestrians in school or bus zones. These types of accidents were so prevalent that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) analyzed them between the years 2006 to 2015 and found:
- 1,172 of all fatal traffic collisions that occurred were school-related.
- 102 children were among those who died in these types of accidents.
- School-related crashes killed 113 school bus occupants and 940 other vehicle occupants in 2015.
- 64 percent of pedestrians hit in school zones were struck by school buses, while 36 percent were struck by other types of vehicles.
- Child pedestrians between the ages of 4 and 7 were among the highest killed in bus-related accidents.
In order to prevent child death and injuries, all drivers are required to make stops for bus loading and unloading and are expected to reduce speeds when in school and bus zones.
Teen Driver Car Accident Statistics
Our teens may be at-risk for accidents this school season as well, especially as those who are new to driving get behind the wheel.
Car accidents are the leading cause of death in teenagers, and the prevalence of fatalities among teen drivers is due to their inexperience on the road and inability to decipher hazardous situations.
It is important that we bring attention to the risks that arise when teens ages 15 to 20 get behind the wheel.
The following are statistics for teen related car crashes for the year 2017:
- 2,526 teens were killed in car crashes all across America.
- The leading case of death for individuals ages 15 to 20 is car crashes.
- 1/4 of all fatal young driver collisions related to underage drinking and driving.
- 56 percent of teen drivers admit to talking on a cell phone when driving, while 13 percent admit to texting and driving.
- Car accidents are also more likely to occur among teen drivers who ride with passengers.
Using their cellphone, drinking and driving, and giving rides to friends can all give way to a fatal teen accident. We should continue to encourage our teen drivers to f ollow the rules of the road and not to give into distractions when driving.
Back-To-School Safety Tips
There are a few things to keep in mind when driving through school zones and bus stops as school returns and early morning and after school traffic increase.
We recommend the following school safety tips to keep our children, teens, and other commuters safe this back-to-school season:
- Those waiting for a school bus should stand at least five steps or 6 feet away from the curb.
- Children and parents should wait for the bus driver to signal that they can get on.
- Children should not horseplay near the street.
- Pedestrians should always use crosswalks.
- Drivers should avoid distractions.
- Drivers should slow down in school zones and bus zones and abide by the speed limit.
- Parents should secure children in their proper car or booster seat.
- Do not load or unload children in areas not designated for school drop-offs.
- Teens should only drive with a license.
- Parents should encourage teens to limit roadway distractions.
- No minor should be consuming alcohol or getting behind the wheel when intoxicated.
Adults and children can both take steps to make school zones a safer place. Parents should remind their little ones of these safety tips often to help them protect themselves from any possible dangers.
Should your child or teen suffer injuries in a car crash this back-to-school season, contact the committed Houston car accident attorneys of Lapeze & Johns at (713) 766-4855 today for your FREE case review.
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