Study: 102 children fatally struck at US bus stops in 9 years

<p>School bus safety is a major concern across the Hudson Valley after new data reveals that crashes around bus stops are on the rise.</p>

News 12 Staff

Nov 6, 2018, 1:51 AM

Updated 2,366 days ago

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School bus safety is a major concern across the Hudson Valley after new data reveals that crashes around bus stops are on the rise.
New numbers show more than 100 children were fatally struck at bus stops around the country from 2006-2015.
According to data released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in all age groups, more pedestrians were killed in a school transportation-related crashes than occupants of the vehicle.
In November last year, a 6-year-old girl was killed getting off her school bus in Orange County. As News 12 reported, she and her family had just moved to Kiryas Joel and was confused about which way to go home. The driver in that case, a 25-year-old woman, was charged with reckless homicide.
Last week, three children in Indiana were killed after they were hit by a pickup truck while trying to board their bus.
Shannon Wood, of Highland Mills, says the Monroe-Woodbury School District has well-trained drivers who always use their signals and stops signs and always make sure a road is clear for children to cross.
However, not all drivers do that. Of the 102 school-age pedestrians killed in nine years, 61 percent of them were struck by school buses and 36 percent were killed by other vehicles.
Wood says she trusts her bus drivers but sees dangerous habits from other ones every day.
Now that it's getting dark earlier, Westchester County police warn drivers to watch out for children and to slow down.
Westchester County police say they will have more units patrolling school bus routes and bus stops to make sure drivers are following school bus safety laws.