IN OTHER NEWS – A new study reveals that Georgia ranks in the top 10 US states most at risk from deaths caused by or on school buses.

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A new study has revealed the US states that are most at risk from deaths caused by or on school buses. 

The research, conducted by injury lawyers Bader Scott, examined vehicle collision data between 2018 and 2022 and discovered the number of fatalities per million populations in each state in collisions involving school buses. 

Mississippi is the state that is most at risk of deaths caused on or by a school bus. In Mississippi, there were 10.13 deaths per million caused by or on school buses. In this state, during the 2018 to 2022 period, of the fatalities in collisions involving school buses, ten were passengers of other vehicles, and twelve were drivers of other vehicles. There were also five school bus drivers killed, as well as three school bus passengers. 

Montanna is the next state most at risk of deaths involving school buses, with 8.26 deaths per million. Of these fatalities on or caused by school buses, two were school bus drivers, and one was a passenger. There were four fatalities that were drivers of other vehicles and two that were passengers of other vehicles involved in the crashes. 

In third place is South Dakota, with 6.73 deaths per million. In the number of fatalities in collisions involving school buses, one was the driver of a school bus, and one was a passenger. There were also two fatalities who were drivers of other vehicles and two who were passengers of other vehicles. 

Ranking fourth is Indiana, with 6.05 deaths per million. In this state, of the total fatalities involving a school bus in the time period, fourteen deaths were passengers of other vehicles, and twenty were drivers of other vehicles. Five school bus drivers were killed and two school bus passengers. 

US states most at risk of deaths caused on or by a school bus: 

Rank	State	Total fatalities per million population
1	Mississippi	10.13
2	Montana	8.26
3	South Dakota	6.73
4	Indiana	6.05
5	Nebraska	5.64
6	Louisiana	5.39
7	West Virginia	5.03
8	Georgia	4.95
9	Iowa	4.40
9	Maine	4.40
10	Kansas	4.10

Following on in fifth place is Nebraska, which experienced 5.64 deaths per million. In Nebraska, two of the fatalities were drivers of a school bus, and one was the passenger of a school bus. There were also five fatalities who were drivers of another vehicle involved in a crash with a school bus and three fatalities who were passengers of other vehicles. 

The sixth most at-risk state of deaths involving school buses is Louisiana, with 5.39 deaths per million. In this state, there were four pedestrian fatalities in collisions involving school buses. There were also fourteen deaths of drivers of other vehicles and seven school bus driver deaths. 

In seventh place is West Virginia, with 5.03 deaths per million. Of all the fatalities involving school buses in this state during the 2018-2022 time frame, three were school bus drivers, and six were drivers of other vehicles. 

Georgia is ranked in eighth place, recording 4.95 deaths per million. In this state, of all the fatalities in collisions involving school buses, there were four pedestrian deaths and three bicyclist deaths. Twelve fatalities were school bus drivers, and one was a passenger of a school bus. There were also 31 fatalities who were drivers of other vehicles involved in the crashes and two who were passengers of other vehicles. 

In joint ninth place are Iowa and Maine, which both recorded 4.40 deaths per million.  

Iowa recorded two pedestrian fatalities in collisions involving school buses. There were also three bus driver fatalities and one bus passenger fatality. The state also recorded six fatalities who were drivers of other vehicles and two fatalities who were passengers of other vehicles. 

In Maine, two of the total fatalities in collisions involving school buses were drivers of a school bus, and four were drivers of other vehicles.  

Rounding off the top ten states most at risk from deaths involving school buses is Kansas. In this state, there were 4.10 deaths per million in collisions involving school buses. In Kansas, of the total fatalities involving school bus collisions, three school bus drivers were killed, and seven drivers of other vehicles were killed. There were also two pedestrian fatalities. 

Commenting on the study, a spokesperson from Bader Scott said: 

“This research highlights the risks associated with school bus transportation in various states. The findings show the importance of implementing enhanced safety measures and raising awareness about road safety to protect all road users, especially our children and school bus drivers. 

“By understanding which states are most affected, we can better allocate resources and efforts to reduce these tragic incidents and lessen the deaths and injuries on our roads.”