School buses carry our most precious cargo. It seems unnecessary to state that these mass transport vehicles filled with children should be held to a high safety standard, and that drivers need to follow the rules of the road.
But many bus drivers do not.
In 2016, investigations by NBC-owned stations showed Dallas-area school buses racing through red lights. Over two and a half years, these same drivers racked up nearly 500 traffic tickets.
This, chillingly, seems to have led to a 103% increase in bus accidents in the area.
Causes of Bus Accidents
Bus accidents can be caused by:
- Inadequate training: If schools or bus companies are short-staffed, additional hires may find themselves behind the wheel without comprehensive training. A bus isn’t quite the same as a passenger vehicle, though…
- Poorly maintained equipment: When budgets are slashed, safety inspections fall through the cracks.
- Driver fatigue or distractions: Sleep-deprived or distracted drivers are starting to cause as many accidents as intoxicated drivers. School buses offer their own particular brand of distractions in the back, so driver training is even more vital.
- Reckless driving: Do bus drivers think they always have the right-of-way because they’re carrying children? We hope not; but proof of reckless driving is all over the news, as we can see.
School bus drivers are required to follow the rules of the road the same as any other vehicle. Reckless driving by a bus driver can be devastating to families, schools, and communities. Drivers cannot be allowed to carry on their employment if their behavior compromises the safety of the children in any way—for example, blatantly running red lights.
Attorneys for Bus Accident Victims
If someone you love was hurt in a bus accident because of a bus driver’s reckless driving, contact Crowe Arnold & Majors, LLP at (214) 231-0555. We have extensive experience with these cases and will work with you to get full and just compensation from the people or institutions responsible.
