Image Source: Michael Wyke/Tulsa World
Wet streets pose a risk to all drivers, but a recent wreck in Tulsa underscores the need for extra precaution when driving a school bus in rainy weather.
Four elementary students and a bus driver were injured Wednesday when a Tulsa school bus slid off U.S. 75 during heavy rain and rolled onto its side.
Only 10 students were on the bus at the time, which helped to minimize injuries, but Tulsa Police Department spokesman Leland Ashley said four of those 10 were taken to a hospital to be treated for injuries.
The driver and one student were reported to be in serious condition at the time, according to an EMSA spokeswoman, however Police Cpl. Steve Wood commented that the most severe injury was a broken leg.
The accident occurred shortly after 3 p.m., when the driver says the bus started to go sideways around a corner. She tried to steer intro the skid but lost control, sending the bus off the shoulder, over a guardrail, and into a light pole before rolling onto the side and sliding down a hill.
Dash cam footage from the accident has since been shared online, which supports the driver’s story. You can view the video here, but it may be difficult to watch.
Tulsa Public Schools said the driver is known in the district as a very safe driver with a clean record until Wednesday, and police suggest wed roads and speeds too fast for the conditions to be primarily to blame for the accident.
Although injuries were relatively low in this case, the situation could have been much worse if the bus was completely full or the driver was less experienced.
Oklahoma is one of the 44 states to not require seat belts in all school buses. There has been extensive debate about whether seat belts are needed, as many school transportation experts suggest adding seat belts could compromise other important safety considerations such as compartmentalization. Installing seat belts state wide could also cost millions of dollars.
While the state may not mandate seat belts for all buses, many school districts are making the decision to install them on their own with the help of American Bus Sales. We also offer many other bus safety device and accessories to help keep passengers safe in frightening events such as this.
To reach us with regards to this issue, please contact Chad Brinkley at CBrinkley@americanbussales.net
