Southern York County Life

Ok I’m pretty sure everyone knows I drive a School Bus.......I’m not sure everyone knows when to STOP for a school bus when it’s lights are on!  I have people EVERYDAY!!!!!! run my red lights. I am posting a like that I think everybody who has a driver’s licesnse should have to acknowledge they have seen it because I’m not sure anybody has.

PA School Bus Law

This is directly from the State Police website. 

Let me give an example that happens to me everyday..........

I travel down Scarborough Fare towards Hollow Rd every afternoon, I have a stop at the Stop Sign.  I put my yellow lights on 200 feet from the stop sign.  When I come to a complete stop and engage my parking brake I crack my doors to activate my Red lights.  When I am stopped at the stop sign Traffic in all directions MUST STOP!.  That means if you are traveling on Hollow Rd in either direction you must stop!  I have kids that cross Hollow Rd and you will hit them if they cross and you don’t stop.

Here’s another example.........

I travel on Hyson School Rd towards Round Hill Church.  I have a stop at Lowe Rd.  In the morning I turn on my lights 200 feet from the stop and red light go on when I stop, that means you cannot cut into Lowe Rd while I sit there that is called overtaking a bus.  How many children are standing on the right side of my bus?  Is there still kids at that stop when I pull away( Elementary and 5/6 Bus pick up at the same time by different buses so at times there is 2 stops at the same stop)....you don’t know so STOP! It might prevent a tragic accident.

In the afternoon I do the same stop but I also turn around on Lowe Rd........ So by law I have to turn around before dropping off a child.  So, I put my yellow lights 200 feet from the stop. Pull up and back into Lowe Rd.  When I stop, put my parking brake on, my reds are on sitting there and traffic on Hyson School Rd Must STOP!!!! 

Trust me when I have let the children at these stops get safely across the road I will turn off my lights and I promise I will let you go.  My job is to get my kids on my bus to school and home safely!!!  It is not to see how many people I can hold up.  I PROMISE!!!!  Too many children get hurt because drivers are in too big of a hurry, aren’t paying attention, putting on makeup, talking/texting while driving......the list goes on and on. Please take the time to care about the children in your neighborhood.  It is not going to haunt you for the rest of your life if you are 2 minutes late to where you are going, but it will haunt you if you hit a child that is crossing the street and gets seriously hurt or god forbid killed because you have to get in front or around a school bus!

As a school bus driver if I can get your license plate we can file a police report and the police can file a ticket and you can pay a fine and get points and your license revoked.  I have no problem going to court and testifying if that is the only way for you to realize that I am serious about protecting the safety of the kids I drive!

Sorry about the rant but It is ridiculous the amount of drivers that do not stop!  I can’t wait for the people to attack me for this post.  I can’t wait to see who has a problem with protecting the safety of children.

Thank you for posting that and I hope it helps - and on the flip side.....  I have noticed many school bus drivers speeding along our 25 mph roads with bus loads of kids.  Please ask them to slow it down.  Thanks!

I agree with you 100% Teresa.

There are too many inconsiderate drivers in our community.

If I’m driving and a school bus is ahead of me, and blinking lights go on, I come to a gentle stop right then and there. Granted, I might be leaving too much space between my vehicle and the bus, but hey, I’m in no hurry and I would rather stop further away than the required footage to ensure students can exit the bus safely to their destination.

My only fear is a lot of times some speed demon is going to rear end me while I’m stopped for the school bus. Too many times I see a Mario Andretti zoom up in my rear view mirror and come to a very close stop nearly hitting my car’s rear bumper. After the bus continues on its way and most of the time the bus is making a turn, I continue on my way at a safe speed and Mario Andretti is miffed and zooms around my vehicle crossing over the double line. I don’t know what Mario’s hurry is but some day Mario may not reach his destination if he continues to drive like that!

Thank you Teresa ! Well said.  I see some of the same things you mention.  I ask that you do get people’s license and report them - our children’s safety is worth it !

You should request that Stewartstown Police sit with a view of the intersection before the bus arrives, and “nab” them.
I know this happens all over the place.  However, a few well placed tickets will get the message out!

Bravo Theresa!!  Thanks for looking out for our kids. 

JH, I have been rearended before when stopped for a school bus (in Baltimore County).

agreeed with you 1,000% Teresa.
keeep pad/pencil handy everyday and write down ALL of the license #’s you can get.

I often wonder how some people even passed the test to get their license.  Kudos, Teresa!

zort2001 - 18 March 2010 01:55 PM

You should request that Stewartstown Police sit with a view of the intersection before the bus arrives, and “nab” them.
I know this happens all over the place.  However, a few well placed tickets will get the message out!

Unfortunately most of my stops are in the State police coverage areas and they don’t have time or the manpower.

Teresa16401 - 18 March 2010 09:12 PM

zort2001 - 18 March 2010 01:55 PM

You should request that Stewartstown Police sit with a view of the intersection before the bus arrives, and “nab” them.
I know this happens all over the place. However, a few well placed tickets will get the message out!

Unfortunately most of my stops are in the State police coverage areas and they don’t have time or the manpower.

Maybe they can install cameras on the buses front and back that activate when the lights come on. Surprised this has not happened yet.

^^^ welll schoool taxes are about to go up…

Teresa16401 - 18 March 2010 11:16 AM

<snip>

PA School Bus Law

This is directly from the State Police website. 


Let me give an example that happens to me everyday..........

I travel down Scarborough Fare towards Hollow Rd every afternoon, I have a stop at the Stop Sign.  I put my yellow lights on 200 feet from the stop sign.  When I come to a complete stop and engage my parking brake I crack my doors to activate my Red lights.  When I am stopped at the stop sign Traffic in all directions MUST STOP!.  That means if you are traveling on Hollow Rd in either direction you must stop!  I have kids that cross Hollow Rd and you will hit them if they cross and you don’t stop.

<snip>

Thanks for the info.  I was unaware that a stopped school bus at an intersection created a 4-way stop.  (And no, it’s not me...I don’t get home until 6:00 pm or later).

Here is a document with pictures that might help

http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/pdotforms/fact_sheets/fs-pub97.pdf

Craig

zort2001 - 19 March 2010 10:23 AM

Here is a document with pictures that might help

http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/pdotforms/fact_sheets/fs-pub97.pdf

Craig

Yep this is the same link I posted.  I try and pull far enough into a road that it looks obvious that a car would stop, but just the other day I had a driver swerve to go around my front end and came within inches of hitting a high school-er who was crossing the street.  I blew the horn to get the car and the kids attention and the kid had to jump back to stop from getting hit.  I got that ones tag number, ticket is in the process!  That link also shows what the consequences are.

Teresa16401 - 19 March 2010 04:36 PM

zort2001 - 19 March 2010 10:23 AM

Here is a document with pictures that might help

http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/pdotforms/fact_sheets/fs-pub97.pdf

Craig

Yep this is the same link I posted.  I try and pull far enough into a road that it looks obvious that a car would stop, but just the other day I had a driver swerve to go around my front end and came within inches of hitting a high school-er who was crossing the street.  I blew the horn to get the car and the kids attention and the kid had to jump back to stop from getting hit.  I got that ones tag number, ticket is in the process!  That link also shows what the consequences are.

Stiff penalties, but justified.  Hard to believe people can be so stupid!

Teresa16401 - 18 March 2010 11:16 AM

I travel down Scarborough Fare towards Hollow Rd every afternoon, I have a stop at the Stop Sign.  I put my yellow lights on 200 feet from the stop sign.  When I come to a complete stop and engage my parking brake I crack my doors to activate my Red lights.  When I am stopped at the stop sign Traffic in all directions MUST STOP!.  That means if you are traveling on Hollow Rd in either direction you must stop!  I have kids that cross Hollow Rd and you will hit them if they cross and you don’t stop.

Maybe the district could make one stop 200 meters before the stop sign and another 200 meters after the intersection.  Might take another minute, but then children wouldn’t have to cross the street in that situation.

Our children’s stop is at a stop sign, following the stop, the bus turns right.  I always wondered why they couldn’t turn right and then have the stop.  Traffic coming from that direction, around a curve, may not see the busses’ lights.