Most schools in Missouri start next week, which means reduced speeds in school zones, congested traffic and school buses. Captain Tim Hull with the Highway Patrol reminds motorists to allow extra travel time during certain times of the day.
Last year bus accidents accounted for only .7 percent of all accidents statewide; .5 percent of fatal accidents. There were five fatalities in bus accidents in which two students were killed. Hull says that’s a drop of more than 5 percent from the previous year, but people need to pay attention, be cautious, watch for other motorists and school children, and review rules with their kids.
Motorists behind stopped buses as well as meeting them head-on must stop and yield. That law does not apply if the road is divided, Hull says.
He says this time of year is also when many high-school drivers are behind the wheel, meaning inexperienced and distracted drivers will crowd the roadways during certain times of day — from 7 to 8 a.m. and from 3 to 4 p.m. He recommends avoiding routes around area high schools during those hours.
Last year, Hull says two students were killed — one while riding the bus involved in a rear-collision accident, one who was hit by the bus he had just exited.