The Ohio State Highway Patrol will be participating in National School Bus Safety week which runs October 21 through October 25, 2013. This year’s theme, “Stand Back from the Yellow and Black” reminds us that the most dangerous part of the school bus ride for children is when they get on and off the bus.
Throughout the week, troopers across the state of Ohio will be highly visible, enforcing the law in and around school zones and following school buses on their daily routes. In addition, troopers may be found riding on school buses looking for motorists passing the stopped school bus and other crash-causing violations.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol is reminding drivers to pay attention and be alert for stopped school busses. To support this reminder the Patrol has released dash cam video of a commercial tractor-trailer passing a stopped school bus in Logan County on April 17 of this year. The video can be viewed at youtu.be/NZ9u5CmTy_E.
The violation was captured by the Patrol as a trooper, assigned to the Piqua District, was proactively shadowing an Indian Lake Local school bus on its morning route in an attempt to raise awareness about school bus safety, to deter violations and possibly observe a violation. Fortunately, there were no injuries in this instance; however it serves as a reminder to stay alert for stopped school busses. The driver of the tractor-trailer was stopped and issued a citation for passing a stopped school bus.
“Although drivers of all vehicles are required to stop for a school bus when it is loading or unloading passengers, children should not rely on them to do so,” said Colonel Paul A. Pride, Patrol superintendent. “Children exiting the bus should always stop and look both ways before crossing the street and remain alert to any sudden traffic changes.”
Motorists approaching a stopped school bus from either direction should remember they are required to stop a least 10 feet back from buses displaying red flashing lights and an extended stop arm. From 2010 through 2012, 4,176 motorists were cited for failing to stop for a school bus when it was loading or unloading children. There were 29 convictions in Marion County alone.
Click here for a complete statistical breakdown of school bus inspections, crashes and passing stopped school bus violations.
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