SPECIAL REPORT Tennessee’s Hinerman shared specific driver training protocols from his
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operations. “When the driver makes the stop, they are taught to look and make sure all vehicles have come to a stop before making eye contact with the student and motioning the student to cross, during that time the driver should be constantly keeping their eye moving and looking for danger/ hazards.” He also noted that drivers are trained to use a designated hand signal to
indicate to students that it is safe to cross, i.e. a thumbs up. “Do not use wav- ing their hand for the signal,” he advised, “as car drivers might [think drivers] mean they are waving their vehicle pass.” Staying in a vigilant state of mind when on the road is crucial for driv- ers and students, he explained. “For drivers it reminds us to be constantly looking before coming to a stop and never assume that the other vehicle is going to stop. For students this could mean serious injury and/or death and students must always be aware of their bus stop and making sure they look both ways and make eye contact with the bus driver before crossing.” Robertson County Schools has experienced multiple instances of a stu-
dent being hit by a passing motorist in the past few years, with each case resulting in minor injuries to the student, said Hinerman. “There is no explanation for the utter feeling of horror when you hear a [school bus] driver come over the radio stating a student has been struck by a car,” he noted. “We respond calmly and quickly to the situation. While at the scene we do our best to be a comfort to the parents who have often times witnessed such a tragic event.” Awareness from school districts, news coverage of illegal passing incidents,
and community outreach are all tools to bring attention to this safety concern. Paul noted that community education on Danger Zone safety is done through the New Jersey State Police and local law enforcement. He noted online re- sources such as
schoolbusfacts.com, which he said districts should utilize. Legus pointed to an episode of his district’s podcast series, “ShamrockED,”
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which is hosted by Berrien Springs Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Thomas Bruce. Bruce spoke with Legus as well as one of the districts’ school bus drivers about safety issues specific to student transportation. Educa- tional outreach opportunities such as this are examples of how districts can highlight school bus safety concerns, giving a voice to student transporta- tion professionals and broadcast it to the wider community. Legus also said four signs that read, “All lanes must stop for school bus with flashing red lights” have been placed at strategic areas. Reported illegal passing incidents for his fleet of 26 buses reduced from 170 in the 2022-2023 school year to 146 in 2023-2024, with 30 currently reported for the 2024-2025 year. Two of the signs were posted in 2023 and the other two in 2024. Even when illegal passing incidents don’t result in death or injury, it
doesn’t mean it that they don’t have consequences. “The potential for fatal consequences is off the charts,” Paul said. Legus shared how illegal passing can have long-term psychological and
emotional effects. “Stop-arm violations are both emotional and traumatic to our transpor-
tation staff and students,” he said. “Drivers put a lot of care and compassion into their profession. Our drivers tend to view the kids as their own and protect them as such.” ●
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released a 190-page report that detailed individual state laws for illegal passing and their recommendations regarding the lack of consistency and federal standards on illegal passing violations. Read the full report at
stnonline.com/go/kx.
22 School Transportation News • FEBRUARY 2025
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