Federal figures from 2015 through 2024 reveal that school-age children account for 204 of these fatalities. While buses remain among the safest transit options, the risk spikes significantly when students enter or exit vehicles. Illegal passing of buses continues to be a major safety hazard, with an estimated 43.5 million incidents recorded during the 2022-23 academic year alone. Most victims of these crashes—nearly 70%—are occupants of other vehicles, highlighting the collective danger during rush hour.

Justin Yoshizawa, Director of Product Management at Mercury Insurance, suggests that drivers treat the first weeks of the school year as a period for recalibrating habits. Beyond obeying stop arms and flashing signals, he advises leaving home earlier to avoid the urge to speed or make aggressive maneuvers. Distracted driving, particularly phone use, remains a critical factor that complicates navigation in high-traffic school zones. By increasing following distances and preparing for unpredictable pedestrian behavior, drivers can mitigate the risks inherent in the sudden shift from summer traffic patterns to a busy school-year environment.