Driver safety around School Buses

More than 40% of school bus injuries are caused by vehicle accidents. About 24% of those injuries involve children getting on or off the school bus according to www.stanfordchildrens.org

Lauderdale County School District's (LCSD) bus driver of 30 years stated on average how many times a car illegally drives past his bus.

“I’ve been driving for thirty years”, said Tim Caldwell. “To be honest with you weekly, somebody either on the morning route or afternoon route is going to run my stop sign.”

Lauderdale County sheriff’s office responded to calls concerning this issue with a post on their Facebook stating that the issue could result in a dangerous and unnecessary outcome. Sheriff Sollie spoke of the legal consequence drivers could face in a fatal incident.

“If you’re passing a school bus when it’s stopped, and it has the proper signage out and you strike a child; you can then be charged with aggravated assault and serve up to 20 years in prison.”- Sheriff Sollie

On a four-lane highway, depending on what side the bus is on determines if the vehicle driver is supposed to stop. If you are driving on the same side of the highway as the bus, then you must stop whether you are driving behind or on the side of the bus. The opposite side of the highway dose not have to stop.

“There are occasions where a student would have to cross in front of a bus”, said Kirsty Wooldridge, LCSD bus driver of five years. “As the red lights come on and as your responsibility as a driver; you are suppose to stop. Students don’t always check to see if the traffic stopped. They are suppose to look at the driver to motion them across but that’s not always the case.”

Drivers who do not stop for school buses could face up to a $350 fine on the first offense.