National School Bus Safety Week Promotes Safe Practices

National School Bus Safety Week is observed from October 21-25, emphasizing the importance of safe practices for students, drivers, and parents, as winter approaches. Organizations like Verra Mobility are promoting awareness through their 'Zero in on School Bus Safety Toolkit' to combat the alarming statistic that 45.2 million drivers violated laws against passing stopped school buses last year. This initiative coincides with various safety measures being taken by school districts, such as retrofitting buses with new LED stop signs to enhance visibility and compliance. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, school buses are statistically the safest vehicles on the road, yet children are at risk when getting on or off the bus. The West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program highlights that illegal passing of school buses poses fatal risks, with over 100 children killed in related incidents from 2013 to 2022. Modern transportation providers like Zum are also leveraging technology to enhance safety and communication, addressing parents' concerns about their children's safety while riding school buses.