[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 498 Introduced in House (IH)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 498

       Supporting the goals and ideals of School Bus Safety Week.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 18, 2005

 Mr. Duncan submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                   the Committee on Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
       Supporting the goals and ideals of School Bus Safety Week.

Whereas approximately 480,000 yellow school buses carry 25 million children to 
        and from school every weekday;
Whereas America's 480,000 school buses comprise the largest mass transportation 
        fleet in the country, 2.5 times the size of all other forms of mass 
        transportation--transit, intercity buses, commercial airlines, and 
        rail--combined;
Whereas during the school year, school buses make more than 50 million passenger 
        trips daily carrying the Nation's future--our children;
Whereas school bus transportation is eight times safer than traveling in a 
        passenger vehicle and is the safest form of ground transportation 
        available;
Whereas school buses meet higher construction, equipment, and inspection 
        standards than any other vehicle, and school bus drivers meet higher 
        qualification, training, and testing standards than any other drivers;
Whereas according to the National Academy of Sciences, an average of 820 
        students are killed annually during school transportation hours, but 
        less than 2 percent of them are school bus passengers;
Whereas despite the industry's best efforts, accidents still happen;
Whereas an average of seven school-age passengers are killed in school bus 
        crashes each year, and an average of 19 children are killed each year 
        getting on and off the bus;
Whereas most of those killed are children aged five to seven, and most often 
        those children are killed in the area immediately surrounding the bus--
        either by a passing vehicle or by the bus itself;
Whereas School Bus Safety Week, which is celebrated in more than 40 States and 
        sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 
        was created to remind all students of the best ways to get on and off 
        the bus in an effort to enhance the safety of the Nation's children;
Whereas School Bus Safety Week, which dates back to 1966, also recognizes the 
        hard work and dedication of school transportation personnel, especially 
        the many school bus drivers who ensure a safe journey each and every 
        day; and
Whereas School Bus Safety Week, celebrated the third week in October, promotes 
        awareness through local and State poster and speech contests, lessons 
        utilizing school bus safety community awareness kits, and other 
        activities built around themes that raise awareness of school bus safety 
        issues: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports the goals and 
ideals of School Bus Safety Week.
                                 <all>