Below is a news release on a AAP policy statement appearing in the July issue of Pediatrics, the peer-reviewed, scientific journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). To receive the full text of these articles, contact the AAP Department of Communications.

For Release: July 2 , 2007, 12:01 am (ET)

CHICAGO - Each year, 815 students die and 152,250 are injured during regular travel between school and home. A revised American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) policy statement titled “School Transportation Safety,” provides new information and recommendations related to safe transportation of children who walk, ride bikes or travel by car or bus.

During normal school travel hours, an estimated 23.5 million children are transported annually on 457,000 school buses, totaling 5.8 billion student trips and 3.13 billion miles. A national estimate of 17,000 school bus related injuries each year was determined in a recent study, far more than previous estimates.

The AAP recommends that all children travel in age-appropriate and properly secured child restraint systems in all motor vehicles to ensure the safest ride possible, noting that school buses have a better safety record than passenger vehicles. The AAP’s long-standing position has been that new school buses should have safety restraints and that is reiterated in this statement with more specific recommendations. The AAP encourages parents and pediatricians to work with their school districts to ensure new school buses are equipped with lap/shoulder seat belts that can also accommodate car safety seats, booster seats and harness systems.

The AAP also advocates for national standards on the selection, training, and continued regulation of school bus drivers to ensure optimal driver performance, and more importantly, the safety of the children. Basic driver requirements include the ability to pass a driving performance test and demonstrate correct use of all occupant protection systems. They must also pass a written or oral test covering driver duties and bus operating procedures, traffic and school bus regulations and transportation of children with special needs.

Teens driving other teens are at a high risk of being involved in a crash, representing 55 percent of school travel-related fatalities and 51 percent of injuries. The statement promotes passage and enforcement of graduated driver licensing laws, which have been shown to reduce fatal crashes.

The AAP statement also supports efforts to make walking and bicycling to school safer. This includes bicycle helmet education and legislation, school zone improvements such as speed limit enforcement, and the development of safe routes to school as well as infrastructure enhancements like bike and walking paths.

Transportation for preschool-aged children, bus passenger safety instruction, specialized restraint systems for children with special needs, and environmental issues (reducing toxic emissions) are among other issues addressed in the statement.

The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.