To the editor:
During this busy season, many of us are busy shopping and decorating for the upcoming holidays. Houses decorated with brilliantly colorful lights can be seen and admired by the masses. Some of these displays can truly be spectacular. But, there is another type of lights that I want to remind you about as we scurry around town trying to finish or, if you’re like me, begin your holiday shopping.
The lights I’m talking about are bright yellow and bright red and are often seen as a nuisance to some. These red and yellow lights mean exactly the same thing throughout the entire United States. They are the lights that warn motorists that a school bus is about to come to a stop and either let children get on or get off of a school bus.
School buses are painted yellow for a reason. The color is to catch other motorists’ attention. After all, who can miss a behemoth of yellow rolling down the road, especially when its alternating flashing yellow or red lights are activated and its mobile stop sign is deployed?
This month, our bus drivers have seen a dramatic increase in the number of motorists that have passed school buses in the process of letting students on or off of the school bus. One motorist passed a bus on the door side although its red lights were flashing and the bus was stopped. That is absolutely frightening!
We are lucky that our school district spends a considerable amount of time training its drivers. And, I am of the opinion that our school bus drivers are among the most highly trained and skilled drivers in the state. Despite that, no amount of training can guarantee a student won’t be killed or seriously injured by a distracted motorist or a motorist that doesn’t comply with the law and passes a stopped school bus.
I don’t think anyone intentionally passes a stopped school bus. Rather, I believe most drivers simply become distracted, during this time of year in particular. For this reason, ‘tis the season for a friendly reminder about the law and some common sense as it relates to school buses.
Flashing Yellow Lights — The school bus is preparing to stop and let children on or off of the school bus. Motorists should be slowing down and preparing to stop.
Flashing Red Lights — The operator of a vehicle on a way, in a parking area or on school property, upon meeting or overtaking a school bus from either direction when the bus has stopped with its red lights flashing to receive or discharge passengers, shall stop the vehicle before reaching the school bus. The operator may not proceed until the school bus resumes motion or until signaled by the school bus operator to proceed.
By law, all school buses must stop at railroad crossings whether they have children on board or not. School buses will indicate they are preparing to stop at a railroad crossing by activating their hazard lights.
Please be mindful of this when approaching a school bus from the rear when you are coming upon a railroad crossing. Please do not pass a school bus from the rear at a railroad crossing as they are looking up and down the track to make sure no trains are coming and it is safe for them to cross.
Failure to obey the law when meeting or overtaking a school bus from either direction when the bus has stopped with its red lights flashing carries stiff fines and a trip to court, which wouldn’t make for a very merry holiday season.
Please help us keep our students safe by being extra cautious and aware around school buses this very busy time of the year. We extend our thanks to you and wish you a very happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year.
