[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 498 Engrossed in House (EH)]
H. Res. 498
In the House of Representatives, U.S.,
July 18, 2006.
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.
Attest:
Clerk.