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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is warning school bus drivers, parents, and children of a potential safety defect in some full-size school buses. Several children have been killed or seriously injured when they were dragged by a school bus after their clothing snagged on the bus handrail while exiting.
In each incident, a child leaving the bus snagged an article of clothing or part of a book bag in the handrail on the side wall of the stairway leading down to the bus door. The door was closed before the child had a chance to re-enter the bus to free the clothing or bag. The bus then dragged the victim as it pulled away from the stop.
The design of some bus handrails creates a crevice where the handrail is bolted or otherwise attached to the side of the stairwell. Clothing or book bags can become caught in this crevice as a child steps off the bus.
Four school bus manufacturers are recalling buses for repair of these potentially lethal handrail defects. They are: Thomas Built Buses, Inc. of High Point, North Carolina; AmTran Corporation of Conway, Arkansas; Carpenter Manufacturing, Inc. of Mitchell, Indiana; and Blue Bird Body Company of Fort Valley, Georgia.
NHTSA is conducting an investigation of this handrail problem. The problem may exist in school buses made by 14 different manufacturers.
NHTSA is asking school transportation officials to alert bus drivers of this hazard. Bus drivers should be especially cautious at stops where there are no adults to help supervise the off-loading of students. Caution is particularly important during winter months when children wear bulky clothing which can be snagged more easily.
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