School Bus Stop Arms

[funeralweb]

Gotcha that makes some sense. But I would say if a kid is so young you don’t know that they will get on the bus instead of darting into the road they were probably too young to stand by the road alone?

Too young to focus on bus boarding safety while they ponder the best time to schedule their gender-reassignment surgery.

 

[Doug]

I suspect those who drive past the stop arm really don't care about paying a fine or even losing their license.
I suggest a $3000 fine for the first offense and a mandatory 3 months in jail for the second. 3 years for the third and permanent loss of license with enhanced penalties for driving a license.

 

[Nazgul]

Had one mad because a bus won't accelerate all that quick. He decided to use the left lane of a 4 lane rd to get in front of me to then go slow.

My bus at the time had the normal 2 headights but had 2 more dedicated for brights but all 4 would go to brights. He saw the light as the only place I would go was space currently being occupied by him.

He flew the bird then took off.

To my mind it is insane to have to deal with this. I can be in a hurry or be pissed about everyday stuff like anyone else. BUT crossing the line and endangering children because I am in a dick mood is beyond my ability to process. If there is one thing that people in general should hold important is an innocent life.

Rant off....

Don

 

[two70]

I'm kind of surprised that buses are still a thing given the tremendous number of parents dropping off/picking up kids I see at the schools around me. Personally, I'd much rather wait patiently behind a bus making some stops than be caught in a traffic jam caused by dozens of parents blocking the road to pickup and drop off kids.

Having police follow buses or set up ambushes in frequent bus passing areas seems a better use of manpower than having officers stop traffic for buses leaving school as I so often see.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

I'm kind of surprised that buses are still a thing given the tremendous number of parents dropping off/picking up kids I see at the schools around me. Personally, I'd much rather wait patiently behind a bus making some stops than be caught in a traffic jam caused by dozens of parents blocking the road to pickup and drop off kids.

This!! If I happen to want to go check my mailbox when the elementary school a few blocks away has let out, I might have to wait 5 minutes for the line of SUVs and minivans go by before I can even cross the road. When I see the school buses go past, they may have 5-10 kids on them, if that. Pretty sure they could get all the kids that rely on bus transportation onto 1 bus and still not completely fill the bus.

 

[two70]

This!! If I happen to want to go check my mailbox when the elementary school a few blocks away has let out, I might have to wait 5 minutes for the line of SUVs and minivans go by before I can even cross the road. When I see the school buses go past, they may have 5-10 kids on them, if that. Pretty sure they could get all the kids that rely on bus transportation onto 1 bus and still not completely fill the bus.

I bet most of the kids I see being picked up or dropped off probably wouldn't be on the bus for more than 10 minutes if they rode it.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

I bet most of the kids I see being picked up or dropped off probably wouldn't be on the bus for more than 10 minutes if they rode it.

Helicopter parents is my guess. If they're gonna drive their kids, then we need to stop funding school transportation and refund our property taxes.

 

[MCgrease08]

Helicopter parents is my guess. If they're gonna drive their kids, then we need to stop funding school transportation and refund our property taxes.

I'd wager most of these kids getting dropped off don't have the option of riding the bus because they live too close to the school.

When I was in elementary school I was about 3 houses inside of the cut-off line which was set at something like 1 mile. Anyone living inside a mile radius was out of luck and had to either walk or get dropped off. Even in the '80s my parents weren't willing to let me walk a mile to school alone at age 7. So Mom would drop me off at a sitter that lived two blocks away and my sister and I would walk from there.

 

[shibumiseeker]

The only issue I have is with one bus driver who stops traffic, lets the kids off the bus, and then STEPS OFF THE BUS TO TALK TO THE PARENTS FOR 5-10 MINUTES. One time and I could understand. Every time is ridiculous.

And I hope you reported him or her.

I teach my EMT students that even running lights and sirens there is never any excuse for passing a bus with the stop arm extended. Wait for the driver to direct you to pass. No emergency is worth the extra 30 seconds when the consequence is killing a kid.

 

[Rookie]

And I hope you reported him or her.

I teach my EMT students that even running lights and sirens there is never any excuse for passing a bus with the stop arm extended. Wait for the driver to direct you to pass. No emergency is worth the extra 30 seconds when the consequence is killing a kid.

3 times. Same answer, "we'll take care of it". Same result, nothing changes.

Of course, this is the same school system that allows their bus drivers to blow stop signs when leaving the school. 10 busses leaving the parking lot, blowing through the first stop sign without slowing down is a sight to see. One again, "we'll take care of it".

 

[Brandon]

I wouldn't let my kids ride the bus.

 

[actaeon277]

If I missed the bus, I got to run.
Junior HS was 2 miles
HS was probably twice that.

I was NOT going to get a ride from the parents.

 

[Cameramonkey]

Interesting conundrum. "short busses". I noticed a wheelchair bound student being loaded onto a bus a block away from my house. Red lights flashing for probably 3-5 minutes as they bring the wheelchair student out and load them up on the lift. They were surrounded by family and the driver. No risk of anyone running over a child in the street. Do they really need the red lights?

Is is appropriate for flashing reds for an extended amount of time when there is no reason to prevent traffic from passing because there is no risk of a student getting run over?

So I'm on the fence. Part of me says it only deserves the flashing yellows to make traffic slow down and not slam into the bus.

Then again there was the moron this AM in the mustang. The driver decided not to activate ANY lights while they loaded the student. Yet the mustang refused to pass the bus.

 

[nmeyers11007]

So this topic hits very close to home. Back in Jaunary my 13 year old daughter was hit by a car while crossing the street getting off the bus. She saw it coming at the last second and jumped away. The car only hit her foot and she was not hurt but it was a fraction of a second away from major injury. The car blew around the bus and never touched the brakes. Our local law enforcement and school corporation was all hands on deck. They had the guy in custody in less than an hour. It was a kid with a mental handicap that should have never been issued a license. Long story short, he is now on house arrest for a year then 6 months probation. His license was suspended for a year and additional testing was ordered if he tries to renew it. So I 100 percent agree with the stop arm laws in place. All traffic anywhere near a stopped bus should be stopped. Any relaxation on that rule just opens up unneccessary risk.

 

[ditcherman]

So this topic hits very close to home. Back in Jaunary my 13 year old daughter was hit by a car while crossing the street getting off the bus. She saw it coming at the last second and jumped away. The car only hit her foot and she was not hurt but it was a fraction of a second away from major injury. The car blew around the bus and never touched the brakes. Our local law enforcement and school corporation was all hands on deck. They had the guy in custody in less than an hour. It was a kid with a mental handicap that should have never been issued a license. Long story short, he is now on house arrest for a year then 6 months probation. His license was suspended for a year and additional testing was ordered if he tries to renew it. So I 100 percent agree with the stop arm laws in place. All traffic anywhere near a stopped bus should be stopped. Any relaxation on that rule just opens up unneccessary risk.

Glad your girl was ok!!

 

[Brandon]

Interesting conundrum. "short busses". I noticed a wheelchair bound student being loaded onto a bus a block away from my house. Red lights flashing for probably 3-5 minutes as they bring the wheelchair student out and load them up on the lift. They were surrounded by family and the driver. No risk of anyone running over a child in the street. Do they really need the red lights?

Is is appropriate for flashing reds for an extended amount of time when there is no reason to prevent traffic from passing because there is no risk of a student getting run over?

So I'm on the fence. Part of me says it only deserves the flashing yellows to make traffic slow down and not slam into the bus.

Then again there was the moron this AM in the mustang. The driver decided not to activate ANY lights while they loaded the student. Yet the mustang refused to pass the bus.

Anytime students are boarding or exiting the bus= reds on & stop arm out.

Wheelchairs were the worst. You have to tie them down and undo the ties and get the student in and out of their chair.

We had a monitor on all special needs routes. One would operate the lift and the other got the wheel chair/scooter and student ready. The lifts were notoriously unreliable.

Family also had to be present to get the student in their home or they stayed on the bus and possibly sent back to school.

 

[Cameramonkey]

Anytime students are boarding or exiting the bus= reds on & stop arm out.

Wheelchairs were the worst. You have to tie them down and undo the ties and get the student in and out of their chair.

We had a monitor on all special needs routes. One would operate the lift and the other got the wheel chair/scooter and student ready. The lifts were notoriously unreliable.

Family also had to be present to get the student in their home or they stayed on the bus and possibly sent back to school.

Just seems like in this scenario the flashing yellows are all that is necessary. Making everyone stop for a few seconds is no big deal for the able bodied kids. Seems excessive for disabled kids where nobody is going to get run over trying to cross the street because the aide, driver, AND parents are all there. (and the kid CANT run into traffic)

 

[d.kaufman]

Just seems like in this scenario the flashing yellows are all that is necessary. Making everyone stop for a few seconds is no big deal for the able bodied kids. Seems excessive for disabled kids where nobody is going to get run over trying to cross the street because the aide, driver, AND parents are all there. (and the kid CANT run across the street)

I agree for instances like this

 

[Brandon]

Just seems like in this scenario the flashing yellows are all that is necessary. Making everyone stop for a few seconds is no big deal for the able bodied kids. Seems excessive for disabled kids where nobody is going to get run over trying to cross the street because the aide, driver, AND parents are all there. (and the kid CANT run into traffic)

Its pretty much all automated.
Press the button for your 8 ways (yellow/red), yellows on, stop bus, open door (on some buses there is an option to have reds on arm out door closed) more common door opens reds on and arm out.

Theres another way to get the reds on and arm out but thats the bypass to the yellows.

I agree the wait is aggravating when the risk is minimal.

 

[Cameramonkey]

I agree for instances like this

And probably why they didnt have any lights on the other morning. Yet the mustang still waited patiently. Good on them for being cautious and courteous.

And it helps it was in a neighborhood and not on a high speed road.