9/25/12 No excuse for passing school buses

  • By Nick Sabo
  • September 25, 2012
  • 370
                        
SUMMARY: Passing a stopped bus could result in fines and a license suspension Motorists who do not respect the safety zone around a stopped school bus can find themselves in front of a judge, or, worse, cause a tragedy. Passing a stopped school bus is an unclassified misdemeanor that carries up to a $500 fine and one year license suspension. Anyone who passes a school approaches within 10 feet - even if it is to stop before or behind - can be charged. The law is crafted to protect children as they are getting on, or off, the bus. Anytime a bus is stationary on a two lane road, motorists are required to stop. Despite the potential consequences, reports from bus drivers of illegal passing are a regular occurrence, East Holmes Local Schools Transportation Coordinator Erik Beun said. Beun said anyone unaware of the law needs to brush up, for the sake of children’s safety. “Just having that awareness is important,” Beun said. “The bus is stopped for a reason. Either they’re loading or offloading kids.” Municipal Court Judge Jane Irving said she has heard some disturbing excuses over the years as to why someone passed a school bus. Usually, the motorist goes after they believe the children are safely off the bus. Other times, it is recklessness or carelessness. “We had some pretty horrific ones,” Irving said. “One was a lady who passed on the right because she didn’t want to hit another car. She knew she wasn’t going to be able to stop and was going to hit the other car. “The right side is usually where the kids are, walking around the front of the bus.” Motorists have also been cited for exiting the roadway and using a parking lot to get around the stopped bus. When stopping, school bus drivers will activate flashing yellow lights and a stop sign that folds out from the driver’s side. However, failure by the bus driver to do this is no defense, according to the Ohio Revised Code. Irving said that there are no good reasons for passing a stopped school bus. Children are not always visible to the motorist, and young children often behave unpredictably. Students of the Holmes County Training Center may take longer to get on and off the bus, because of special needs. In school zones, failure to slow down during posted hours can result in jail time. Anyone clocked at 38 miles per hour or more in a school zone during restricted hours is guilty of a fourth degree misdemeanor carrying up to a $250 fine and 30 days in jail. Traveling at speeds above 20 miles per hour is a minor misdemeanor that carries a $150 fine. Schools zones need not be marked by signs equipped with flashing lights. Anytime children are present outside the school, the restricted speed of 20 miles per hour is in effect. This includes parochial schools, Irving said.


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