Congressman: This problem deserves additional attention
Washington, D.C. - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today wrote the House Transportation and Infrastructure's Chairman Bill Shuster and Ranking Member Nick Rahall to urge the Committee to hold hearings on school bus safety before the session ends this year.
"Simply put, there are too many accidents killing children in and around school buses every year," Braley said. "There are things we can do to make our children safer, and I urge the Committee to take up this important matter before one more child is involved in a preventable accident."
An average of 6 children are killed in school bus related accidents each year while an average of 12 children are killed each year in pedestrian deaths outside of the school bus.
"According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an average of 19 school-age children die each year due to school transportation accidents. Given these statistics, it's evident that more attention should be given to addressing school bus safety," Braley's letter reads.
Earlier this year, Braley introduced the most comprehensive overhaul of school bus safety in 15 years. Braley's School Bus Safety Act is a five-pronged approach that would protect students both in and around school buses.
· Title I: "Kadyn's Act"?named after Northwood student Kadyn Halverson, requires states to enact tough penalties for drivers who pass stopped schools buses. Kadyn's parents helped enact this portion of the law in Iowa, but in many other states, this activity, which puts children's lives in danger, is punishable by fines as low as 30 dollars.
· Title II creates grants for Motion Activated Detection Systems on the exterior of buses?these systems alert a driver when a moving target is detected within the danger zones near the front, rear and sides of the bus.
· Title III requires background checks on school bus drivers. In 2012, Iowa enacted such a law, but some states are still operating without this requirement.
· Title IV is a School Bus Seat Belt Demonstration Program. The Department of Transportation would create a Demonstration Program which would allow states to apply for funding to purchase new school buses with seat belts or to equip current ones with seat belts. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has estimated that deaths from frontal crashes could be significantly reduced with mandatory seatbelt use.
· The last portion of the legislation would direct the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to assess using technology to get drivers to stop for school buses. For example, studying how a particular lighting system might help prevent motorists from illegally passing stopped buses. This could also help with the situation that led to Kadyn Halverson's tragedy - utilizing technology that can get people to slow down and stop, in addition to increased penalties.
Braley's letter can be found online HERE.
# # #
