After a tragedy in Indiana which claimed the life of three children from the same family after a driver failed to stop for a bus that had its safety lights and stop arm deployed, area superintendents are reminding the public to pay attention to bus safety signals.
Numerous schools in the area have shared a graphic that reads “When the lights are flashin’ don’t be passin’.”
Heritage Superintendent Tom Davis said that when a driver passes a Heritage school bus the driver reports it to the district and they call the police if they can identify the person.
Davis said the Homer police department has ticketed people for passing a bus with its safety lights on, even in the Homer Elementary School parking lot where buses are loading and unloading. Davis said he periodically sends out reminders to parents and students not to pass buses with their safety lights on.
Davis said the school also regularly addresses cell phone usage in school zones with signage.
“Speeding and using cell phones are also sometimes an issue in front of the schools,” Davis said.
At the high school in Broadlands county, deputies and state police do spot checks and remind students and parents about bus safety. The issue is also addressed in driver’s education classes.
“At the high school, I watch out my office window and have seen people coming down our bus lane and when I can identify them, I talk to them, call them, or tell their child to not do this,” Davis said.
At the start of each year, Heritage has training for all of their students on bus etiquette and bus safety and evacuation in case of emergency.
Davis said Heritage makes an effort to have the bus door open to the curb to avoid a situation like happened in Indiana.
“Sometimes, that is not possible just due to physical layout of where the students come from to get to bus stop, so that is when those major flashing lights are important,” Davis said. “When I drive to meetings through St. Joe or Unity, my usual directions, I am always hyper aware of buses and knowing stops are coming. I have seen people just blatantly drive through and it drives me nuts.”
St. Joseph District #169 Superintendent Todd Pence said the district has been lucky this year and no drivers have driven past the stop signs of a bus unloading or loading students. However, this has happened in the past. When it does happen the school reports it to resource officer Alicia Maxey and shares with her videotape from the bus.
“I would urge all drivers to use extreme caution anytime they are close to a school bus,” Pence said. “ They are yellow for a reason, and I can’t imagine how anyone could live with themselves if they hurt or worse yet killed a child.”
Pence said all of the district’s buses are equipped with cameras and if a driver does pass a stopped bus the district will not hesitate to share that information with the Champaign County Law Enforcement so that they can prosecute.
The district teaches students about bus safety during an annual bus evacuation and emergency drills. Students are taught the proper and safe way to board and depart a bus as well as behavior expectations while they are riding the bus so the district can always get them safely to and from school.
“I would also, say our bus drivers are always looking in all four directions before loading and unloading,” Pence said.
Prairieview-Ogden Superintendent Vic White said the district hasn’t had any problems with drivers this year but in the past when drivers have driven around the stop arm of a bus unloading or loading students the district contacts law enforcement.
“We have had one driver in the past drive around the bus in the ditch,” White said. “Scary.”
White said he urged drivers to pay attention when they were near a bus.
“As soon as you see the yellow lights please slow down and get ready to stop,” he said.
White said each PVO bus driver talks to their passengers and students and they tell them not to come across the road until he or she signals them. Same with getting off.
Bus drivers talk to them about looking both ways in front of the bus before crossing the road,” White said. If students get off on the right side of the bus then they are getting off at their driveway and not crossing the road.”
St. Joseph-Ogden Superintendent Brian Brooks said the district has no had too many problems this year with rogue drivers near their buses but when they do the bus driver gets the license number and it is reported to law enforcement. The cameras are equipped with cameras which can get license numbers and the make and model of the vehicle.
The school educates students on bus safety during the annual bus evacuation drill. Drivers education students are also educated on obeying school bus stop arms.
Brooks said the district urges drivers to be hyper-aware when they are driving near a bus.
“Obviously, we would like drivers to slow down any time they see a school bus,” Brooks said.
Brooks said drivers should anticipate that a moving bus will be stopping in the near future to either pick up or drop off students. Brooks also said that while it seems people are busier than they were in the past, being busier is no excuse for putting students in danger.
“We are all in such a hurry anymore in our society but nothing is urgent enough to put kids lives in danger which is exactly what drivers are doing if they disobey the stop sign arm on a school bus,” Brooks said.
