‘Still They Don’t Stop,’ School Bus Driver Sees Too Many Lawbreakers
In a few days, students across the northwest suburbs will wait with anxious energy as school buses return to their neighborhoods. For parents, back-to-school jitters may be focused on careless drivers.
“I’m very worried because my street is horrible. Drivers just fly by. That’s always been an issue,” said parent Tasha Johnson.
By law, motorists in both directions must stop when flashing lights on school buses come on and the stop arm extends. But many drivers fail to follow the law. First Student bus driver Bryan Mirander says violations happen far too often.
“Sometimes we have to put our hands out to signal to them that there’s a stop sign, and yet, still they don’t stop,” said Mirander.
Those actions put students in danger.
“We request that you keep at least 20 feet if you’ve got oncoming traffic because you want to be able to see the student,” said Jennifer Doyle, area safety manager at First Student.
Safety officials urge drivers to watch out for school buses and students.
Doyle says drivers sometimes get impatient waiting for students to board, which can lead to a serious safety issue.
“Getting on and off the bus is where children face the most risks,” said Doyle.
The Department of Public Safety recently issued grants to schools and transportation companies to install cameras on stop arms. First Student in Brooklyn Park, which serves the Osseo School District, hopes to have the cameras installed soon.
