Recent accidents bring school bus stop safety back into center stage

In a decade, a third of children who died in school vehicle accidents were on foot when it happened.

That, according to data between 2006-2015 from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Two weeks ago, incidents across the country took the lives of five children and injured another seven getting on or off school busses, when drivers didn’t obey the flashing lights and stop sign.

It happens far too often says manager Michael Wolfert with GO Ritweway, which busses students for the La Crosse School District.

“Probably between two and three dozen times a week a driver will radio in that they had a stop arm violation,” Wolfert said.

Wolfert says they appreciate when adults accompany their child to the bus stop to make sure traffic is stopped before kids cross the street