Fewer Fatalites, Report Says

TOPEKA, Kan. (Oct. 19, 2007) — Last year seven children died in the loading and unloading zone, fewer than any time in the last four years, according to the just-released Kansas State Department of Education’s National School Bus Loading and Unloading Survey for 2006/2007.

The Unloading and Loading Survey, which is now available for download, acts as a reminder to alert the public on the possible dangers involved with students boarding and exiting buses every school day.

The most revealing data to come from the survey is the close to 50 percent decrease in fatalities from the 2005/2006 to 2006/2007 school year. The total number of fatalities dropped to seven from 13 in the past year. The number of school children struck and killed by passing motorists was also lower this year, down to four from last year’s six.

Although the number of states that reported fatalities was only five — compared to nine last year — they are not mandated to respond to the request for information. New Hampshire, for example, did not respond to the survey. Those states that do respond self-report and choose which fatalities to include for the survey.