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Stop in the name of the law: Respect school bus rules

Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Violating the school bus stopping law endangers the lives of students. Failure to follow the rules can result in a $250 fine, five points, and a 60-day suspension

School buses have red lights, stop signs, and extending arms.

All of those things are intended to help keep children who are running to or from the buses safe.

They are reminders. They can’t physically keep a car from passing. They only work when other motorists do what they’re supposed to do.

“The Warren County School District is concerned by the number of stop-arm violations on yellow school buses, which is the act of illegally passing a stopped school bus when its red lights are flashing and the stop sign-shaped arm is extended,” Transportation Manager Mike Kiehl said. “This is a very serious concern based on recent events across the country and is apparently on the rise locally, according to reports from local school bus drivers.”

“The district’s transportation office has received reports from drivers that some motorists continue to pass school buses illegally, which is disturbing when considering the significant risk of student injury and/or death,” Kiehl said. “The WCSD believes that awareness and enforcement are key steps in curbing such dangerous and illegal behavior.”

It isn’t enough for motorists to obey the law when police are watching.

According to Youngsville Borough Police Chief Todd Mineweaser, drivers are on their best behavior when they see police. “I think most of the motorists traveling through Youngsville see our patrol vehicles on a regular basis stationary at our problem areas,” Mineweaser said. “Most drivers tend not to commit violations in front of us.”

Police presence or not, the vast majority of drivers are doing the right thing, he said. “Most people driving around our bus stops before and after school are aware of the many children walking to and from the stops.”

But those who break the rules are endangering students and jeopardizing their driving privilege.

According to the Pennsylvania School Bus Stopping Law:

¯ “Motorists must stop at least 10 feet away from school buses that have their red lights flashing and stop arm extended.

¯ Motorists must stop when they are behind a bus, meeting the bus or approaching an intersection where a bus is stopped.

¯ Motorists following or traveling alongside a school bus must also stop until the red lights have stopped flashing, the stop arm is withdrawn, and all children have reached safety.

¯ If physical barriers such as grassy medians, guide rails or concrete median barriers separate oncoming traffic from the bus, motorists in the opposing lanes may proceed without stopping.

¯ Do not proceed until all the children have reached a place of safety.”

Violating the school bus stopping law can result in a $250 fine, five points, and a 60-day suspension.

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