If you put your child on a school bus every morning, you are no doubt concerned about the driver’s safety record. You want to know that you are putting your child on a bus with a driver worthy of your trust, someone who will drive safely and do whatever possible to avoid a potential accident. A recent analysis of New York school bus accidents reveals that your trust is likely well-placed, as the majority of school bus accidents aren’t the fault of the bus driver at all.

Reporters at the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reviewed three years of state Education Department data to determine how safe state bus drivers are. The newspaper reported that other drivers were to blame in the vast majority of accidents involving school buses.

In all, the data included information on more than 3,900 bus crashes between July 2010 and May 2013. Approximately, 1,540 crashes were said to be preventable. In only 119 crashes of the crashes were the bus drivers found to have poor judgment or being distracted.

Michelle Sears, interim director of transportation in Greece Central School District upstate says the majority of school bus accidents are caused by people running into the back of buses. Whether they rear-end a bus at a stoplight or come into the bus’s lane too early, there is really nothing the bus driver can do in these situations to avoid a collision.

An estimated 2.3 million students ride New York school buses every single day. And even when an accident occurs, these students are likely to avoid injury.

The American School Bus Council says that bus trips account for about a quarter of all miles students travel by vehicle, but only account for 4 percent of their injuries. In other words, school buses are considered the safest mode of transport for children.

This doesn’t mean riding the bus is risk-free, merely that your child may be safer on their school bus than in a car pool, riding their bike, or walking to school.

New York and New Jersey Bus Accident Lawyers

If your child is involved in any sort of auto accident, the accident attorneys of Ginarte may be able to help. Contact our offices today to discuss your legal options in the event of a bus accident, car accident, or even a bicycle accident. Call (888) GINARTE today.