Modes of School Transportation

The Committee on School Transportation Safety of the Transportation Research Board studied the various modes of travel and associated risks for schoolchildren. Estimates of trips per year by mode of transportation during school hours were: passenger vehicle with an adult driver, 45%; school buses, 25%; other buses, 2%; passenger vehicle with a teen driver, 14%; bicycle, 2%; and walking, 12%. These estimates are limited because they do not include school bus travel for extracurricular activities during or after regular school hours or vacations. School bus crashes occur disproportionately on high-speed roads at night during transportation to and from extracurricular activities.

Annually, 23.5 million children are transported on 457000 school buses during regular school travel hours, totaling 5.8 billion student trips and 3.13 billion miles. Each child who uses school bus transportation travels, on average, 1300 miles per school year. These estimates do not include school or school-related travel during non-school hours.

School Transportation Injury

Annually, there are, on average, 815 student deaths and 152,250 injuries related to school travel during regular school travel hours. (These data are underestimated because they do not include school-related trips or school bus crashes outside school hours, and reporting is voluntary.) Two percent of the deaths and 4% of the injuries occurred in school buses. Seventy-five percent of the deaths and 84% of the injuries occurred in passenger vehicles. The fatality rates descend in the following order: (1) passenger vehicles with teen drivers, 55%; (2) passenger vehicles with adult drivers, 20%; (3) walking (pedestrians), 16%; (4) bicyclists, 6%; and (5) school and other buses, 2%. The injury rates descend in the following order: (1) passenger vehicles with teen drivers, 51%; (2) passenger vehicles with adult drivers, 33%; (3) walking (pedestrian), 6%; (4) bicycles, 5%; and (5) school and other buses, 5%.

School Bus Driver Selection, Training, and Performance

The Transportation Research Board stated that variations in school bus driver recruitment, selection, training practices, and pay rates are likely associated with driver safety performance variations. In another report, the Transportation Research Board recommended that all states provide formal training for school bus drivers, including training on school bus driver responsibility in ensuring the safety of the children inside the bus and in loading zones.

The AAP believes that national standards for selecting, training, and regulating school bus drivers should be established and implemented to ensure optimal driver performance.

To meet basic requirements, school bus drivers should:

• maintain a valid commercial driver’s license;

• be at least 21 years of age;

• show proof of annual health history, assessment, and physical examination, including vision and hearing assessments, that document the absence of conditions that may compromise driving and child supervision;

• complete a written or oral test covering driver duties, bus-operating procedures, traffic and school bus laws and regulations, record keeping, emergency, and crash-related procedures, first aid, basic appreciation of the developmental stages and needs of preschool and school-aged children, child-supervision responsibilities, and transportation of passengers with special needs;

• maintain a satisfactory driving record as determined by the school district;

• successfully pass a review for a criminal record (including convictions of child sexual abuse and incidents or arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs) that is reviewed annually; and

• pass a test for illicit drugs and alcohol as required by the district (mandatory testing is recommended if it is not already required).

To demonstrate operational and driving skills, school bus drivers should:

• pass a driving performance test and demonstrate safe loading and unloading procedures;

• demonstrate physical capability to accomplish student evacuation successfully; and

• Demonstrate correct use of all occupant-protection systems that may be available on the school bus, including car safety seats, seat belt systems, and systems used by children with special medical or health needs.

Children with conditions such as anaphylactic allergies, severe asthma, diabetes, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism or pervasive developmental disorder, and other chronic conditions may have health and safety issues during transport to and from school and school-related events. For that reason, the following are essential:

• Drivers should be included in school plans for children with special medical and transportation needs.

• School bus drivers must be aware of and prepared to intervene appropriately to ensure the safety of the individual child and all children on the trip. Interventions may require training beyond basic first aid.