Posted in Bus Accident,Tennessee Accident Law on July 19, 2017
Dickson County school officials worked with local emergency responders to learn techniques for handling school bus crises, including crashes, during a 45-minute drill on Tuesday morning.
Per WKRN.com, the drill involved bus drivers and school officials getting first-hand experience on working with emergency personnel, including the Tennessee Highway Patrol and Dickson County Sheriff’s Office, in emergency situations, including removing children from school buses after accidents.
A spokesperson with the Dickson County school system told reporters that the drill was part of the country’s safety training for its transportation employees and is a great way to prepare them for disaster scenarios.
He went on to say that driving between 40 and 50 mph in a large vehicle with 75 to 80 children onboard is a tough job, and keeping kids safe is one of the top priorities.
School officials say that they hope to host another event next year to further enhance bus safety and crisis management skills in transportation employees. School bus safety has received increased focus in recent months following a bus accident in Chattanooga last November that claimed the lives of six students.
How Can You Help Your Children Stay Safe on the Bus?
Many parents throughout Tennessee have become more and more concerned about their children’s safety after the tragic bus accident in Hamilton County in late 2016. In response, many school districts throughout the state have increased their focus on safety by improving bus driver training, increasing bus surveillance, and tightening requirements to become a bus driver.
You can also help your children reduce their risks when they ride the bus to and from school by:
All school buses are equipped with emergency exits, which can be located on the side, top, and rear of the riding areas. Children may not always know how to operate these exits, but being able to open one quickly and calmly after an accident or during an emergency can be life-saving. Make sure your child has an opportunity to learn how to open emergency exits at all locations on his or her bus.
Children can be at a high risk when they’re entering or exiting their buses. It’s important to make sure that your children know when it’s safe to cross the street to get to their bus stop or to board their bus when it arrives. They should also know how to safely cross the street after exiting their bus to avoid being in the path of it or other vehicles.
Whether it’s major disruptions caused by other students or dangerous driving behaviors of bus drivers, make sure your children know that they can and should tell you, their teacher, their bus monitor, or any other supervisory figure at their school about things that could increase the risk of a bus accident. In some cases, buses aren’t equipped with surveillance cameras or monitors, and school officials may be unaware of potential dangers unless it’s reported.
Matt Hardin Law’s team of Nashville bus accident attorneys knows that children are generally in good hands when they ride buses to and from school, as it’s one of the safest forms of transportation.
However, it’s important to make sure that your children know how to further improve their safety and the safety of their classmates by always following the tips above. In addition to those tips, they can also decrease their risk of accidents by keeping bags out of aisles, staying seated when the bus is in motion, and using seat belts if their bus is equipped with them.
If you or your child was injured in a bus accident that was caused by the bus driver’s or another motorist’s negligence, you may be eligible to file a claim for compensation. To find out how our legal team can build a strong claim on your behalf, just dial (615) 200-1111 or complete a free online form. We’re ready to put our experience to work for you.
