News

Law enforcement asks for drivers to be cautious with buses

By Scott Wagar

10/28/2014

Bottineau County Sheriff Steve Watson requested that local drivers in Bottineau stop on the streets when school buses stop signs are out and their lights are flashing when the drivers pick-up or drop-off the students they transport.

Watson stated that he has received a large number of complaints from parents and local residents which have seen drivers go around buses while they are stopped on the streets and the bus drivers have their signs out and lights on.

With so many complaints coming to the sheriff’s office, law enforcement on Friday morning began to set up check points to ticket anyone who is breaking this law.  

Watson stated that law prohibits vehicles from going around buses when buses’ signs and lights are on. He added that if ticketed, a driver will receive a $30 fine and have six points taken off his or her’s driver license.

“After three points, your insurance goes up automatically,” Watson said.

According to Sanford Children’s Health, about 24 percent of school children injuries involved children getting off buses.

“Although an average of seven school-age passengers are killed in school bus crashes each year, 19 are killed getting on and off the bus, according to School Transportation News,” stated the Sanford Children Health in a press release. “Most of those killed are five to seven years old. They are hit in the danger zone around the bus. This is the area 10 feet in front of the bus, 10 feet behind it and 10 feet to either side of it. The children are struck either by the school bus itself or by a passing vehicle, even though it is illegal for a vehicle to pass a bus with its red lights are flashing.”

Sanford also stated that school age pedestrians are killed in the afternoon more than in the morning and that 38 percent of the fatalities happened in crashes between 3 and 4 p.m.  

“To better protect children, many bus companies have added a mechanical arm that forces a child to stay a certain distance from a bus. And some school districts have mounted cameras on their buses to record motorists who fail to stop for a school bus,” Sanford stated.

“Parents, too, can do a lot to help prevent accidents near the school bus. They can keep an eye on children waiting for the bus or departing the bus. And they can teach them several simple rules to keep them safe. Children should stay 10 feet away from the bus, or as far away as they can, and never walk behind it. They should take five giant steps in front of the bus before crossing, so they can be seen by the driver.”

Watson is asking drivers to be careful around school buses when driving, and to follow the local ordinance.

“It could mean the life of a child,” he said. “So, please be careful while on the streets when you’re driving your vehicle.”