National Loading and Unloading Survey

The National School Bus Loading and Unloading Survey is a collection of fatality accident reports provided by state agencies that are responsible for school transportation and/or accident records. KSDE along with the help of NASDPTS, asks that all states and Washington, D.C. provide data to KSDE annually, who then compiles it for this survey. Only fatalities involving school children in or around the loading or unloading areas of a school bus are included.

This survey is provided annually to the school transportation industry in an effort to raise awareness of the dangers involved in loading and unloading school children. Fatalities — which are caused by a variety of circumstances and errors by passing motorists and school bus drivers — continue to take place. This shows the continuing need for forceful, advanced instruction to school bus drivers and students, as well as the need to increase our efforts to thoroughly inform drivers across the country about the requirements of the school bus stop law.

These National Loading and Unloading Surveys provide an account of students who ride the school bus and are killed by either by their own school bus or a passing motorist while loading or unloading the school bus.

Current Survey (PDF) 2024-2025 school year

Past Surveys and Additional Information

Past two-year surveys and a collection of nationwide statistics dating back to 1970 for some categories for students killed in the loading and unloading zone around a school bus. The data includes breakdowns by: front and back of a school bus, size of the bus, vehicles passing a stopped school bus,  light conditions, sex and age of the student, whether the child was going to or coming from school, weather conditions, day of the week, month, type of roadway, if the student dropped an object, fell down, or caught a piece of clothing or object in the door or handrail. 

2023-2024 School Year Survey (PDF)

2022-2023 School Year Survey (PDF)

Accumulative Data Report (PDF)

Accumulative Fatality Synopsis Report (PDF)

Survey Questions (PDF) informational document to assist State Directors of Pupil Transportation in gathering data to complete the yearly report.

NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System

The Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) is a nationwide census providing NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), Congress and the American public yearly data regarding fatal injuries suffered in motor vehicle traffic crashes.

Fatality Analysis Reporting System (external link) NHTSA website

For more information, contact:

Keith Dreiling, State Director
(785) 296-4567
(785) 296-6659 - fax

Mitch Mellick, Transportation Specialist
(785) 296-4545