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From the Desk of Dr. Halley: Bus Safety

By Halley, Heath on August 22, 2019

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Good morning.  No rain today! It was sunny and cool for the morning bus line.  My intention was to write a note about school bus safety, but my plans changed when a mother asked me this morning “Why do you stand beside the busses as they are unloading?” The answer:  “We have had people drive alongside the busses when the stop arms are out (which is against the law) when they are unloading, so I am trying to ensure the safety of our children.”  

           This provided the perfect opportunity to ask for everyone's cooperation.  Our busses are scheduled to arrive at school between 7:55 am and 8:00 am and unloading begins promptly at 8:00 am.  I know this can be frustrating for you as a parent if you are delivering your child to school. You can relieve some of that frustration by arriving prior to the busses beginning the unloading process.

    The same goes in reverse in the afternoon. Our buses arrive at about 3:15 pm which closes the drive west of the High School and Elementary School.  Our dismissal bell is at 3:25 and the busses are regularly on the move a little after 3:30 pm. So, if your plans include picking your child up early, please know that you will have difficulty leaving as you might have hoped.

Now, returning to school bus safety. I retrieved this information from the  KFVS12 news website. “In 2017, in Missouri, five people were killed and 401 people were injured in 869 traffic crashes involving school buses. Most traffic crashes involving young drivers (under the age of 21) in 2017 occurred between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.”

The Missouri Revised Statutes.   304.050.  School buses, drivers to stop for, when - signs required on buses - crossing control arm - bus driver responsibilities  - driver identity rebuttable presumption, when (Jessica's Law).
1.  The driver of a vehicle upon a highway upon meeting or overtaking from either direction any school bus which has stopped on the highway for the purpose of receiving or discharging any school children and whose driver has in the manner prescribed by law given the signal to stop, shall stop the vehicle before reaching such school bus and shall not proceed until such school bus resumes motion, or until signaled by its driver to proceed.  

Annually, in Putnam County, our bus drivers report multiple incidents each month where vehicles pass their bus while the stop arms and red flashing lights are on and out.  We have been fortunate and blessed so far. Please, help me and our drivers protect our children. Be patient, take your time and NEVER pass a school bus with the red flashing lights and stop arms out.  Children can be unpredictable, you never know what they might do. Thank you for your time and your consideration in this matter. 

Sincerely,

Heath