Schools in Las Vegas and other parts of Nevada as well as in the rest of the nation are opening up again. This is after most schools across the country abruptly closed up in March as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. As we all get used to seeing school buses on the roads again, it can be easy for drivers to become less and less careful regarding traffic safety.
Bus Safety and Information
It is important to remember that school buses are among the safest vehicles on America’s roads. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”), students have a 70% higher likelihood to arrive at school safely when taking the bus as opposed to traveling by a passenger vehicle. There are many reasons for this, including:
- Commercial drivers license (“CDL”) requirement – school bus drivers must have a special drivers license, a CDL, which requires passing a strict and federally-regulated skills and knowledge driver’s exam. Additionally, they must earn a school bus endorsement and passenger endorsement as required by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Drivers are also routinely subject to physicals, background checks, and random drug screenings.
- Much larger vehicles – a school bus is large, painted in yellow or other bright colors, and fitted with flashing red lights as well as stop-sign arms. It is difficult to miss a school bus because it is so conspicuous, making it harder for other drivers to make traffic-related mistakes because they did not see a school bus on the road.
- Safety design – although school buses do not have seat belts, they do have built-in and highly effective safety restraint systems. Not only does the large size of a school bus allow it to distribute crash force better than smaller passenger vehicles, their strong and closely-spaced seats protect the children in the event of impact. A school bus has an extremely rigid exterior, allowing it to withstand maximum force. It also has crush zone features at the front of the bus that reduce the impact of crashes.
- Thoroughly tried and tested – buses undergo particularly rigorous safety testing, more so than passenger vehicles, which requires them to survive simulated crashes from numerous angles before getting an official seal of approval.
Statistics further show that when a school bus-related accident happens, it is almost always the fault of the other driver involved in the collision. For this reason, it is the responsibility of all drivers on the road to drive responsibly and appropriately when near school buses.
Attorneys Who can Help
If you or someone you care about has been hurt in Las Vegas, Henderson, or anywhere else in Nevada, contact the courtroom proven lawyers at H&P Law. We have years of experience representing the injured across Nevada and know how to put forth the strongest case possible for the best outcome.
