According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over 25 million students are in school with an average of 500,000 school buses on the roads. While school buses are statistically one of the safest modes of transportation, more than twice as many children are killed while getting on or off school buses than while riding in them. Preventable School Bus Accident

A 12-year-old girl was hit by a school bus in a South New Jersey middle school parking lot. She was walking across the parking lot which had no designated lines for pedestrian paths and no cross walks. She was run over by the rear tire of a school bus as it came around a loop. She suffered multiple fractures and serious internal injuries.

The bus driver was not faulted. The girl was walking between two cars.

At fault was the school district for failing to provide a parking lot with visibly designated markings; failing to provide appropriate cross walks; and failing to provide a school safety plan for bus arrivals and departures.

“This case, on first blush, appeared to be one of a careless child darting out between parked cars and running into the side of a bus, causing her own injuries”, states Larry Cohan, counsel for the victim.

“After careful analysis, and expert review, it became apparent that this child was a victim of bad planning and bad design by her school. Had there been proper crosswalks, a safety plan and supervision, this child would not have even been crossing where she was, and the incident would not have occurred. The irresponsible school officials, who created this danger, were clearly negligent, and the school was required to pay for their failures.”

The girl received a substantial settlement. Through extensive medical care and physical therapy, she is recovering.

School budget and school districts in many states are frequently in dire straits and are forced to make choices in how their limited funds are expended. Somehow the important issue of school bus safety goes to the back of the bus and doesn’t get addressed.

School Bus Safety Problems

In 2002, 26 children were killed as pedestrians getting on or off a school bus, or while waiting at the school bus stop. Other motorists illegally passing a stopped school bus remain a problem in every community and the school bus industry urges stricter police and judicial enforcement against violators.

School buses always are operated by drivers with a Commercial Drivers License (CDL), required by the U.S. Department of Transportation, and who have received special school bus driver training required by states. In addition, no one can drive a school bus without first passing drug and alcohol screening and required law enforcement background checks.

There is no safer way to transport a child than in a school bus. Fatal crashes involving school bus occupants are rare events, even though school buses drive a remarkable 8.8 billion students to and from school annually. Every school day, some 500,000 yellow school buses transport more than 25 million children to and from schools mostly without a serious incident.

The custom made shuttle bus is intended for individuals who wish to remain comfortable and secure but with the added benefit of deluxe and premium accessories. Manufacturers of these vehicles are dedicated to high quality craftsmanship and the latest in technology and customization to suit people who want something truly out of the ordinary. Since these buses are large enough to carry groups of people, they are ideal for use as hotel shuttles, limo vans, and church buses.

Manufacturers ensure that the safety features are of the best quality. You would expect someone paying top price for a custom shuttle bus to want it in the best condition. Before being deemed road-ready, the vehicles are required to pass various trials. The vehicles are designed to navigate tough terrain while preserving a comfortable passenger experience.

With a keen awareness of, and appreciation for, the integrity of the materials used, the shuttle bus producers do not compromise when manufacturing these custom and luxury vehicles. The interiors of these buses are magnificent, featuring comfortable, plush seating, a full bar, large screen LCD televisions, DVDs, surround sound, and fiber optic lighting, to enhance patrons’ listening and viewing enjoyment.

Shuttle bus manufacturers are unique in that they custom build luxury vehicles from the ground up, much like building a home. Starting from the frame up allows modifications to be done to suit everyone’s individual needs. When other bus companies buy a bus, they just work on the inside.

Those that manufacture luxury buses believe each should be made with the top amount of skill. The design, construction, and safety features found in all of their vehicles are a source of great pride. Taking the easy way out is not an option.