Drivers disobey school bus stop signs, putting children at risk

Ricky and Allison Simpson wait until bus driver Charles Jones gives them the 'all-clear' before crossing U.S. 41-A North near Rover. Despite the fact it is illegal to pass a school bus while the lights are flashing and the stop sign is out, many people do and endanger the children getting on or off the bus.
(T-G Photo by Mary Reeves) [Order this photo]

At least three times in the last year, he has watched cars break the law by passing his parked bus when the stop sign was out and the red lights were flashing -- and each time, if he had not cautioned the children to remain where they were, they could have been injured or killed.

"I've had two kids almost get run over because of people running that stop sign," he said. "Twice. If they hadn't been paying attention to me and got off the bus and run, they'd have been run over. I couldn't live with that."

Frightening moments

Jones drives the 41-A route up toward Rover, which is where the most recent incidences have occurred. He has a strict procedure when it comes to letting the children off the bus, especially when they are having to cross the road to get home.

"They stop in front of the bus and wait for me to motion them across," he said.

In one case last year, he looked in the rear view mirror and realized the woman driving up behind him wasn't going to stop -- she was going to pass him.

"I made them wait, and sure enough, she zipped on through."

The two children endangered by the driver were Ricky and Allison Simpson. Their mother now waits in a driveway as they are dropped off.

"Mr. Jones is wonderful," she said. "He really looks after these kids."

According to Simpson, the same woman who passed the school bus continued up the road then stopped and began to back up, almost hitting another two children who had just disembarked.

"She was talking on a cell phone," said Jones.

The stop sign on the school bus is just as legal as a stop sign planted at an intersection, but people will ignore it and keep driving past him, he said. Not only are the cars behind the bus required to stop when the sign comes out, but the oncoming cars in the opposite lane are as well.

Youngest at risk

According to the Tennessee Department of Safety, an average of seven children a year are killed in school bus crashes -- but 19 a year die while getting on or off a bus.

"Most of those killed are children from 5 to 7 years old," stated a fact sheet from the TDOS. "They are hit in the danger zone around the bus, either by a passing vehicle or by the school bus itself.

"It is illegal for a vehicle to pass a bus with its red light flashing."

To combat the problem in Rover, the Bedford County Sheriff's Department has been helping out. Capt. Tony Barrett or another officer will escort the bus when they can.

"But they can't be here all the time," said Jones.

TDOS offers tips for helping children get on and off buses safely.

Danger Zone

The Danger Zone is the area on all sides of the bus where children are in the most danger of being hit. Children should stay 10 feet away from the bus (or as far away as they can) and never go behind it. They should take five giant steps in front of the bus before crossing, so they can be seen by the driver.

Young victims

Young children are most likely to be hit because they:

* hurry to get on or off the bus,

* act before they think and have little experience with traffic,

* assume motorists will see them and will wait for them to cross,

* don't always stay within the bus driver's sight, or

* drop something as they get off the bus and run into the path of the bus to pick it up.

Kids: Bus safety

* When getting on the bus, stay away from the danger zone and wait for the driver's signal. Board the bus one at a time.

* When getting off the bus, look before stepping off the bus to be sure no cars are passing on the shoulder (side of the road). Move away from the bus.

* Before crossing the street, take five "giant steps" out from the front of the bus, or until the driver's face can be seen (A). Wait for the driver to signal that it's safe to cross.

* Look left-right-left when coming to the edge of the bus to make sure traffic is stopped. Keep watching traffic when crossing.

Parents: How to help

* Supervise children to make sure they get to the stop on time, wait far away from the road, and avoid rough play.

* Teach your child to ask the driver for help if he/she drops something near the bus. If a child bends down to pick up something, the driver cannot see him/her and the child may be hit by the bus. Have your child use a backpack or book bag to keep loose items together.

* Make sure clothing and backpacks have no loose drawstrings or long straps, to get caught in the handrail or bus door.

* Encourage safe school bus loading and unloading.

* If you think a bus stop is in a dangerous place, talk with your school office or transportation director about changing the location.

For more information, contact TDOS Pupil Transportation at 615-687-2301 or www.tn.gov/safety. Help is also available from the DOT Auto Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or www.nhtsa.dot.gov.