NHTSA Reminds Everyone to Drive Safely as Children Head Back to School
NHTSA Reminds Everyone to Drive Safely as Children Head Back to School
And offers tips for parents, students and drivers as the new school year starts
NHTSA reminds all drivers to watch out for children and follow all traffic laws, including speed limits in school zones, yielding to pedestrians in crosswalks, and not passing school buses when their lights are flashing and stop arms are extended.
“Tragedy can strike in a split second, so let’s all be extra cautious as children head back to school,” NHTSA Deputy Administrator Sophie Shulman said. “Parents, please talk to your kids, whether they ride a bus, bicycle, walk or drive to school. And all drivers, stay alert on the roads—it could save a life.”
New NHTSA data shows that 104 people died in school-transportation-related crashes in 2022. From 2013 to 2022 more than 1,000 people died in school-transportation-related crashes, and 198 of those were children age 18 and younger. Of those children killed, 40% were occupants of other vehicles, 38% were pedestrians, 18% were occupants of school transportation vehicles, 3% were bicyclists, and 1% were using personal devices such as skateboards, scooters and wheelchairs.
NHTSA offers tips to drivers, parents, guardians, students and others to keep everyone safe as the new school year starts: Back to School Safety, Teen Driver Safety, and Child Car Seat and Vehicle Safety.
For more information about keeping children safe, read the full consumer advisory.
