State officials wanted to know if drivers were doing any better obeying state law that requires people to stop any time a school bus stops to pick up or let off students.
The results were scary.
Roughly a third of all drivers whizzed right on by, in open violation of state law. Video from buses shows some students within inches of being clipped by speeding drivers, officials said.
State law in Kansas and in every other state we know of forbids drivers from passing a stopped school bus when the driver has the flashing red lights on and the stop arm extended.
Its not a difficult law to understand. A school bus is stopped, lights flashing, you stop, no matter which direction youre going.
It shouldnt be that difficult. But in an era when many of us are driving around with phones, video games and whatnot, or bopping down the road to the beat of our music, it appears a lot of people arent paying attention to what they are doing.
What to do?
A taskforce formed by the state Department of Education is looking into the problem, and may make recommendations to the Legislature next year. Meantime, a few things might help:
There arent enough police officers in the state to follow every school bus around its route, but if a few did so, handing out a bunch of tickets, maybe the word would get around. Dont do it just once. Keep it up.
Impress on school-bus drivers and on students that safety is paramount, and they must expect a third of all drivers to blow by their bus. Kids need to stop and look even more closely before crossing a street. Drivers should keep watch for speeding cars and either hold kids in the bus or warn them if theyre on the street already. It wont hurt anyone to wait a minute, but running out onto the road might get a child killed.
All districts should look at the rule requiring drivers to let students off only on the right side, turning around if necessary to aim the bus door at a childs house. Especially on rural roads, schools should do whatever they can to see that children dont have to cross a high-speed highway.
Put cameras on all school buses that could identify both car and driver, and allow the video to be used as grounds for a citation.
Above all else, warn drivers about this law and about the consequences of ignoring it or missing a stopped school bus. We dont mean the fines, which with court costs can total $420 or more, according to state officials. We mean the horror any driver would face after running down a young child.
If a third of drivers are ignoring this law and this years survey results pretty much matched last years we need to do something, find an approach that works.
Kids are too precious to be endangered like this.
