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12‑year‑old who survived bus‑stop crash urges same‑side loading; transport industry warns of costs and routing impacts
Summary
At a packed Transportation Committee hearing supporters for HB1209 — called "Addison's bill" — described preventable injuries when students must cross traffic to board buses. Parents and safety advocates urged same‑side loading; bus operators and driver representatives said the mandate would add time, miles, and backing maneuvers and could worsen safety and costs.
Supporters of HB1209 told the House Transportation Committee the bill would reduce the risk that children are struck while boarding or leaving school buses by directing school districts and bus operators to make routes and stops so students need not cross lanes of traffic.
Representative Newell introduced the measure on behalf of prime sponsor Rep. Jacobs. The bill, informally called “Addison’s bill,” would require, to the extent practicable, same‑side loading so students do not have to cross traffic lanes.
The most powerful testimony came from 12‑year‑old Addison Henderson, who said she was struck by a driver while boarding a bus on Feb. 2, 2024. "My accident did not have to happen," Addison said. "If I had been picked up on the same side of the street as my bus, I never would have had to cross in front of traffic." Her family and others urged the committee to prioritize child safety.
Parents and advocates pointed to national statistics and peer states. Wilson Schreiber, a West Lebanon parent, said his 10‑year‑old daughter was struck crossing to a school bus and referenced Washington and Illinois laws that use same‑side loading as a safety standard.
But industry witnesses and bus drivers warned of operational consequences. Christopher Taft, representing First Student, said enforcing same‑side loading statewide would lengthen routes, increase the number of runs needed, strain a driver workforce and raise fuel and maintenance costs. An experienced school‑bus driver described the frequency and risk of backing maneuvers, the need for safe turnarounds on rural roads, and estimated dozens of additional turnarounds and substantial added mileage for some runs.
Cynthia Fournier, president of the New Hampshire School Transportation Association, cautioned that the bill might unintentionally encourage students to cross streets before buses arrive, and raised concerns that changes could undermine established safe‑loading procedures (red/amber lights, stop arms, driver signal protocols and the "thumbs up" system). Several members probed whether cameras, crossing arms, enforcement, or expanded education could be alternatives.
Committee action: The committee held an executive session later and recorded an ITL recommendation on HB1209. That recommendation and the roll‑call record appear in the committee report.
What happens next: The committee’s recommendation will be included in its formal report. If the sponsor revises the bill to address routing and rural‑implementation concerns (for example, exceptions or alternative protective measures), it could return for further consideration.
