Data shows Henrico led Virginia localities in school bus crashes in 2020-21

Ten Henrico County school buses were involved in crashes during the 2020-2021 school year – the most of any locality in the state – according to data from the Virginia Department of Education.

Though Henrico has a comparatively larger bus fleet than most other counties and cities in Virginia, similarly-sized localities, such as Chesterfield, experienced fewer crashes involving buses.

However, no one was injured in a school bus crash in Henrico during that school year, while other counties did report injuries. Across the state, there were no deaths caused by bus crashes during the school year.

Henrico County has, however, witnessed two injuries due to a bus crash this year – and they occurred just this month. On Nov. 3, a Henrico school bus driver was charged with failing to yield the right of way after the bus collided with a minivan, injuring one student and one adult. Neither injury was serious.

Eight of the school bus crashes in Henrico during the 2020-21 school year were classed as “preventable” by the Virginia Department of Education. According to HCPS Chief of Operations Lenny Pritchard, what constitutes a “crash” is determined by the VDOE.

Despite the incidents, school buses are very safe in general – not just in Henrico, but across the country.

School bus crashes kill far fewer children each year than motor vehicle crashes. According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, six children are killed in school bus crashes per year in the US, whereas about 2,000 are killed in car crashes. School buses are large, heavy vehicles that are designed to withstand impacts.

In October 2017, Henrico County became the first county in the state to purchase school buses with seat belts – a measure that adds another level of protection against crashes. Two-hundred fifty of the school district’s 615 buses have seat belts.

“This was a request that was asked of us based off accidents and parental concerns,” said Pritchard. “It was a collaboration between HCPS and the state government.”

There is no law in Virginia that requires seat belts on school buses, but several have been proposed. Some other states, such as New Jersey and New York, have laws requiring seat belts on school buses already. The American Academy of Pediatrics and National Safety Council both recommend the use of seat belts on school buses.

Buses without seat belts are designed to protect passengers through the closeness of the seats and the high seat backs, which are designed to absorb the force of a passenger being thrown forwards. But, the design does not protect students if the bus rolls over or is thrown sideways.

There are two types of seat belts that can be installed on school buses:

• Lap belts, which are similar to those on airplanes, and only cover the lap;
• three-point belts, which cover the lap and shoulders, like those in a car.

Some states have laws mandating three-point belts on buses. HCPS buses, however, mainly have lap belts.

Despite the presence of belts in a number of Henrico school buses, they are optional for students to use, according to HCPS spokeswoman Eileen Cox.

Another way that HCPS hopes to ensure bus safety is through regular inspections. According to Pritchard, buses are fully inspected about every 45 days. Bus drivers must also complete daily safety checks before they board their buses, or when swapping buses with someone else.

According to HCPS’s website, the school district’s current buses have an average age of 10 years. The district’s goal is to replace buses at or before 13 years of use.

“Our drivers are very conscious that they are carrying people’s children,” Pritchard said. “Our drivers are outstanding. They are very aware of what they are carrying.”

But, as officials said, there is no way to predict the behavior of other drivers. There are laws about driving around school buses, such as stopping when a bus is loading or unloading passengers, that all drivers in Virginia must follow.

“One of the safety aspects we rely on, but have no control over, is other drivers on the road,” Cox said. “That’s part of bus safety – educating the community.”

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Anya Sczerzenie is the Henrico Citizen’s education reporter and a Report for America corps member. Make a tax-deductible donation to support her work, and RFA will match it dollar for dollar. Sign up here for her free weekly education newsletter.