In San Diego, the number of kids taking transit (mostly buses) to school has gone up massively since MTS started free rides for anyone under 18. It's cheaper, working parents don't have to worry about the schedule coordination, and it's almost certainly far safer too. (1/2)
In 2024 there was about 1 "preventable accident" per 100,000 miles driven by buses, most of those very minor. The most severe I can remember in the last few years was a wrong way driver (either drunk or medical episode) hitting the front of a bus at 30-40 mph. No major injuries on the bus. (2/2)
Footnote: "Preventable accident" has a more stringent definition than "at fault", it means that there was something the operator should've done to prevent it. The number of crashes where the bus operator was at fault is presumably much lower.