The Greenest Way to Send Your Kids to School

Reduce pollution and keep your young learners safer.

Photo: Sean Locke / Istock

By Brian Clark Howard

When it's time to send your children off to school, put them on the school bus, instead of driving them in your own vehicle (unless they are close enough to walk or bike).

These days, about 25% of children ride the big yellow bus. It may be counterintuitive to some, but the school bus is actually the safest way for children to travel to school, according to the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies of Science and Engineering. Only an average of 20 children die each year to and from school in buses, and 6,000 are injured, compared with more than 600 deaths and 129,000 injured while commuting via automobile.

Buses are considerably more efficient than cars, using less fuel and releasing lower amounts of carbon emissions. New technology is making diesels cleaner, and hybrid and natural gas options are starting to become available.

Plus, think of the time you'll save (not to mention the gas money!) by not having to drop your kids off yourself! Learn more about the greenest ways to get your kids to school.

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