Officials are concerned about the safety of school-aged children, following several reports of vehicles passing stopped school buses — both on the road and in parking lots.
“We’ve had a lot of complaints of school buses being passed when their red lights are on and stop signs are out, while stopped on school property,” said Chief Roy Guidrey, Washburn Police Department.
Guidrey said he’s had several conversations with Mike Umphrey, a town councilor who also is a bus driver, about the problem.
“Whether they’re stopped in the road or in a parking lot, it’s still the law. People can’t drive past a stopped school bus if the lights and stop sign are activated,” said the chief.
He said he wants to make the public aware to help prevent an accident.
“Kids can dart elsewhere — in front of the bus instead of entering the school or their own driveway,” he said.
Guidrey said drivers have reported incidents where motorists have tried to beat the lights.
“People see the yellow lights start to flash and speed up to pass. There could be a pre-K or kindergarten-age child heading to that bus, not paying attention to traffic,” said Guidrey. “Accelerating to pass a bus could result in deadly consequences.”
“If you accelerate to pass a bus and the sign is out before you pass, that’s a Class E crime, which carries a hefty fine. If you pass before the sign’s out, it could lead to a tragedy,” he said.
Guidrey said bus drivers try to do same-side pick-ups and drop-offs whenever possible.
“But that’s not always practical,” he said.
“This is a problem year-round. School buses are used year-round for various programs. The law still applies regardless of the time of year,” Guidrey said.
Andrea Bard Smith, a bus driver for SAD 1, said she’s experienced people trying to pass her bus on a number of occasions.
“They don’t know where a child will go, once they step off the bus. What if that child drops a ball or the wind catches the piece of paper they have in their hand? All it takes is a split second and that happy child could be injured for life, or worse,” said Smith.
Guidrey said in addition to the fine, there are other consequences for motorists who pass a stopped school bus.
“The charge stays on your record and could affect your employment — any type of job that requires a clean driving record, such as delivery drivers, etc.,” said Guidrey.
Guidrey said he’s had reports of drivers of all ages who’ve passed area buses.
“We’ve had reports from Washburn and the surrounding communities of Perham and Wade. The simplest solution is for motorists to allow time for such delays when planning any travel. Give yourself time to get where you’re going. These buses leave at the exact same time each day and have a set schedule, so if you’re routinely traveling the same route, plan accordingly,” said Guidrey.
“If you hit or kill a child, that’s something you can’t take back. This is something that will not only affect that driver but the family of the child who gets injured. We need motorists to be more aware of their actions and how they could impact others,” said Guidrey.
