Phone a factor in bus accident

he National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that a bus accident in Alexandria, Virginia was caused in part by the fact that the bus driver was talking on a cell phone. In its “Report of Highway Accident” the NTSB outlined the events leading up to the bus accident.

Just over one hour later, as the bus traveled in the right lane of the George Washington Memorial Parkway, the 12-foot high bus collided with the bottom of a bridge with a posted clearance of 10 feet, 2 inches. The bus came to a stop about 470 feet past the bridge, still in the right lane. One student received serious injuries, and 10 received minor injuries in the accident. Both the chaperone and the bus driver were uninjured, though the roof of the bus was totally destroyed.

The NTSB determined that the bus accident was avoidable since signs leading up to the bridge warning of the reduced clearance were well marked. The left lane was available to the bus, and with its clearance of 13 feet, 4 inch clearance would have provided plenty of room for the bus. Speed was also ruled out – the bus’ electronic control module recorded a speed of 46 mph at the time of the accident. Weather, the mechanical condition of the vehicle, the driver’s use of alcohol or drugs, and driver fatigue were all ruled out as well.

However investigators discovered from eyewitnesses, passengers, and the bus driver himself that he was talking on a hands-free cell phone at the time of the bus accident. The NTSB determined that this distracted the bus driver enough that he did not notice the warning signs, and did not try to stop the bus until after it had hit the bridge.

Bus drivers should not call

As a result of its investigation of this bus accident, the NTSB made a number of recommendations. First, it recommended that all bus drivers including school bus drivers be prohibited from using cell phones while operating their vehicles except in emergencies. “Professional drivers who have dozens of passengers' lives entrusted to them should devote their full attention to their task," NTSB Chairman Mark V. Rosenker said in a NTSB press release. "What we saw in this accident is appalling and could have resulted in great tragedy."

The NTSB also recommended that the 20 states who do not have “driver distraction” codes on their accident forms to add them, including a section for cell phone use. The Board noted that until reliable and comprehensive data is collected about cell phone use and vehicle accidents, no agency can say for sure exactly what the impact of cell phones are on driver distraction.

Contact a bus accident lawyer today

Regardless of whether or not the driver is on a cell phone, you should be able to expect full safety from a bus and its driver – especially when your children are involved. If you or a loved one has been injured in a school bus accident or any accident involving school children, contact Jim S. Adler & Associates. We will give you a free case review and protect your rights in what could be a complicated lawsuit. Call us or fill in the form on this page to start your free, no-obligation school bus accident review and get the facts before you make your any decisions.