The American School Bus is the Safest path to school. An American child is 7000% less likely to die in a crash if they are on the American School Bus.  Consider, every American accepts the life saving intervention of a car seat, which makes a child 70% less likely to die in a crash, the American School Bus surpasses the safety of car & car seat by 7000%. On a annual national average we lose 3,000 children in crashes walking, biking and driving. Compared to the annual national average of 8 lives lost on the American School Bus. The American School Bus is a life saving path to school for every student. 

Safe Bus For US is an organization founded in Hillsborough County, Florida dedicated to advocate for students safe paths to school. Florida has the 2nd highest pedestrian death rate in our Country. Pedestrian deaths are avoidable deaths. The number 1 killer of teenagers in America are crashes and most of the crashes occur during school travel hours. Safe Bus for US is supporting

Senate Bill 802 Sponsored by Senator Keith Perry & House Bill  675 Sponsored By House Representative Michael Beltran

Senate Bill 802 & Bill 675 expands the availability of Safe School Bus Transportation for students facing hazardous walking conditions throughout the State of Florida. We are seeking the legislatures support in saving children's lives and the American School Bus being available for every student facing hazardous conditions is the first step. 

Bill Highlights:

*Every Floridian Student will have access to a safe school bus within 1.5 miles

(Keep in Mind Florida legislation states the furthest a school bus stop can be is 1.5 miles. 2 miles round trip is equal to 6.4 Kilometers, which is longer than a 5k race)

* The definition of "student" will be defined as meaning any public elementary school student in K-12

(At this time hazardous walking conditions protections only apply to K-6th grade. Please Note it is teenagers who are largest portion of pedestrian, bicycle and car crash victims.)

*Crossings over the road.—It shall be considered a hazardous walking condition with respect to any road at any uncontrolled crossing site which students must walk in order to walk to and from school if:

1. The road has a posted speed limit of 45 miles per hour or greater; or

2. The road has four lanes or more 

(This change to 45 miles an hour and 4 lanes truly helps in eliminating highly trafficked roads with high speeds.)

*The district school superintendent MUST request the review if he or she receives a written request from a parent of a student in the school district facing hazardous walking conditions

(At this time we have a hazardous walking conditions statute but as it is written, there is no accountability of enforcement. When a parent request an audit by the school district for hazardous walking conditions no other organization has the authority to review the School Districts findings. At this time in Hillsborough County children are forced to walk on roadways, in drainage ditches, at uncontrolled crossing sites with high traffic counts and our school district continues to deny students safe school bus transportation even when hazardous walking conditions exist. There is no mechanism to enforce the present law 1006.23. The new bills will amend this error)

If a constituent lives 1 mile or 10 miles from a school our taxes are the same. It is a public bus, to public school, over public roads and fully funded by public dollars. This bill expands access to the safest path to our public schools, the American School Bus. The evidence collected over 20 years by the NHTSA is clear, the American School Bus Saves Children Lives. Please VOTE YES for Florida Senate Bill 802 & House Bill 675 and vote to save children's lives!