INDUSTRY CONNECTIONS More States Increase Monitoring,
Penalties for Illegal Bus Passing More states are going after motorists who pass stopped school
buses by allowing cameras to record the violations. In the 2011 and 2012 legislative sessions, Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, Rhode Island, Virginia and Washington enacted such measures, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. In June the U.S. Conference of Mayors passed a resolution that sup- ports surveillance cameras installed on school bus stop arms. Motorists in Nebraska can be fined $500 and be assessed
three points on their driver’s license for failing to stop for school buses that are loading or unloading school children, per a revised law effective July 19. Acting New Jersey Gov. Kim Guadagno recently passed
into law school bus safety precautions for adult students with developmental disabilities. Te measure, S-618, requires school bus drivers to use flashing red lights when picking up or dropping off adult passengers with disabilities and requires motorists that are approaching or overtaking a school bus to stop at least 25 feet ahead of the bus with flashing lights. Un- der the new law, violators face a minimum fine of $100, up to 15 days in jail or 15 days of community service. Tey also receive five points on their driver’s license. Two Pennsylvania lawmakers are introducing legislation to
give students who ride in school vans the same level of pro- tection as those who take the bus. Te bill, authored by Rep. Gary Williams and co-sponsored by Rep. Eugene DePasquale, would place school vans under the requirements of the school bus stopping law. Violations would carry a $250 fine.
NTSB Investigation of St. Lucie Bus
Crash May Create New Protections Te National Transportation Safety Board will con-
tinue its ongoing investigation into the fatal St. Lucie County, Fla., school bus crash in March to determine if changes should be made to federal bus safety recom- mendations or rules, a spokesman said. Te NTSB is focusing on that accident, which killed one student and seriously injured others, as well as a similar school bus crash in New Jersey. NTSB investigator Kristin Poland explained that both crashes will offer insight on how to better protect students in major side-impact collisions between large trucks and school buses. It is too early to predict what the agency’s yearlong in-
vestigation into the two-vehicle collision will show, NTSB spokesman Terry Williams said. It will consider only safety issues and not pursue criminal charges against the drivers. Te St. Lucie County public school bus driver at fault
in the crash, Albert Hazen, must pay a $164 traffic fine for failing to yield the right of way to a truck at an inter- section, according to court records and Florida Highway Patrol investigative reports.
Ohio Extends School Bus Trips, Tests New
Warning Lights Effective this fall, Ohio school districts may operate vehicles up to
1,000 miles when transporting students on out-of-state trips. Gov. John Kasich signed HB 437 after the House and Senate passed it unanimously. Te revised section of state code 3327.15 goes into effect on Sept. 28. Te previous statute limited out-of-state travel to 240 miles. In its fiscal note, the legislature noted that most school districts that
travel the additional distance will choose to do so “only as a less expen- sive alternative to hiring a private charter bus company.” Illegal passers of school buses be warned. School districts may start
installing additional LED lights on the back of buses to bring more attention to student safety. Pete Japikse, state director of student trans- portation at the Ohio Department of Education, floated the idea as a potential solution to the illegal passing epidemic. As reported last month, the auxiliary lights are installed just above
the rear school bus bumper and activate when the school bus stop arm is deployed. Districts that performed the tests said the new LED lights have led to a 60- to 75-percent decrease in violations. “Te lights are effective because [they] are hitting drivers dead on in
their eyes,” rather than 10 feet higher, said Paul Stoneking, transporta- tion director at Norton City Schools, one of four districts to conduct the four-month pilot.
14 School Transportation News Magazine September 2012
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