The number of accidents on U.S. roadways that involve buses has been steadily rising in recent years. Federal transit authorities report that the number of bus accidents went from just over 9,700 in 2003 to more than 28,000 in 2007.

And whether it is a city bus, tour bus, chartered bus, road bus or school bus, any type of serious bus accident can have severe health consequences for passengers.

But perhaps the most unsettling facts related to bus accident data are the ones involving children. Consider:

Children between the ages of 11 and 14 are the most likely to be injured in a bus accident. In children under the age of 9, more than 50 percent of the injuries reported for the age group involve some form of head injury. One-fourth of all bus accident injuries to children occur when a child is getting on or off a bus. More than 23 million children ride school buses every day in the U.S., and an estimated 17,000 of those children will be injured annually. Why are bus accidents so dangerous for children?

Bus design/structure. Buses are huge and bulky vehicles, with high centers or gravity. This makes them easier to roll over than most passenger vehicles. Exiting a rolled-over or otherwise compromised bus is also not as simple because of the bus design (two exits on most buses). Also because of their size and weight, buses are more difficult to turn and maneuver in tight traffic situations.

Lack of seat belts. Most school and city buses, except for the latest and most expensive models, do not offer seatbelts for passengers. This means that in the event of a collision, children can be violently tossed against the sides, ceiling, floor and other passengers.

Lack of closed storage areas. Most buses do not have closed storage for backpacks, large packages, laptop computers and other bags passengers bring on board. So when a crash occurs, these items often shift and become airborne, and children are easy targets for these flying objects.

Lack of security/adult oversight on school buses. Roughhousing is a common factor leading to school bus driver distraction. Unsupervised school buses mean drivers make more mistakes, leading to more serious accidents.

Inadequate boarding policies or signage at bus stops. Poor policies or signage can lead to small children being struck by oncoming traffic.

Transportation is an important need for daily routine, whether it is for business, family, or other purposes. Buying a car would surely cost much, and if you need a car but you just do not afford it yet, you can take another alternative of car leasing which is provided by many companies that you can check out online to save your time. Make sure that the company is reliable before making your application, and do not forget to consider your current and future financial condition by making a calculation of the lease. To help you on this you may use car leasing calculator with quick result.

If you are looking for recommended company for such financial need, you do not need to go anywhere because you can directly visit Stratton Finance which is providing several financing services including vehicle lease with flexible options. In the site you can read the information about how car lease works along with the benefits that they offer. With vehicle leasing you will be able to deduct the tax and make advance payments. Not only that, the interest rates are also fixed so you will know exactly how much to pay since the beginning.

Before getting started with car leasing application process, it is better that you learn about the methods available in options in order to make the right choice. Read some details about fully maintained novated lease which is determined by the salary packaging along with the car’s operating costs. With this method you will get the benefits of better control, portability, money saving, and other advantages.



Many people arriving in Thailand are doing so as part of a world tour, and this will be just one stop on their journey. They will often be trying to budget their money and the great news is that there is plenty of opportunity for discount travel. Thailand is a relatively cheap country if you are prepared to eat local food and don’t party too hard. If you know where to look, you will also see opportunities to receive discounts on many activities and trips.

The first place you will need to look for discounts is in the free local tourist magazines. These are available in almost all of the popular locations. They not only provide a useful guide to whatever area you are staying with maps and places to see, but they almost always are full of vouchers and special offers. If you want to party on a budget you will find all the places that offer happy hours, or other discounted drinks. You can also find special deals on meals and all the prominent tourist attractions. In places like Pattaya you can get special deals which mean that you can visit a few of the local attractions for at a cheaper rate as part of a package.

If you know how to haggle then you can really get things cheaper in Thailand. Be warned though, it is only really appropriate to haggle in markets where the prices are not in display. If you go into your local Tesco Supermarket and try to haggle they might call security. The night market in Chiang Mai is a great place to haggle and get a discount. Here you will find plenty of local crafts and souvenirs. It is possible to bargain sellers down to up to fifty percent of the original asking price.

If you are looking for discount flights and tours then the place to go to is the Khao San Road in Bangkok. This is the most popular tourist are in the city and is full of travel agencies all competing for your business for tours within Thailand and elsewhere in the region. If you have the time to shop around you will find some great bargains so don’t accept the first price that you are offered.

These days the best place for bargains for Thailand and elsewhere in the world is on the internet. Hotels and even guest houses will offer a special discounted rate if you book online. You will also find that the cheapest flight deals are available online. If you arrive in a tourist area it is often advisable to book your room from a local internet cafe rather than the hotel itself.

If you are travelling the world on a budget then you will find that your money can go a lot further in Thailand. It is actually possible to spend relatively little money, but still have a great time. On some of the islands it is possible to live on as little as a few US dollars a day.