Florida Observes National School Bus Safety Week-And You Should Too! Local accident attorney offers help.

During the week of October 17-22 Florida and other states across the nation joined together to raise awareness about child safety during National School Bus Safety Week. As a local accident attorney that has seen first hand the devastation caused by school bus accidents, I would like to remind all parents and motorists that observing school bus safety is something that should be remembered every week.  Here is important information to remember:

Children are especially vulnerable when entering and exiting a school bus, and drivers should show extra caution in such situations.  When driving behind a school bus, drivers should remember to:

• Follow at a safe distance-tailgating a school bus is neither faster nor safer;
• Slow down and stop when a bus is either stopped or preparing to stop;
• Wait to start driving until the bus driver withdraws the bus' stop sign;
• Remain alert and avoid driving distracted;
• Always look for crossing children around school bus loading and unloading areas.

Unfortunately, there are some drivers who mistakenly assume that avoiding the inconvenience of a few seconds wait is worth risking the life and health of a child. According to the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles, each year Floridians will illegally drive past stopped school buses a total of two million times.  This is simply illegal and dangerous. Drivers should not only be aware that improperly passing a school bus can result in a ticket and a fine, but should also realize that their negligence to yield to a schoolchild could result in a serious accident in which they would be at fault.

For more information, please see:

Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles School Bus Safety Tips - Stop on Red

The Basics of School Bus Safety for Both Drivers and Students