State troopers are riding along with students on school buses across West Virginia this week as part of a welcomed initiative to crack down on the estimated 600 motorists a year who illegally pass stopped school buses.
As part of the week-long campaign, if the troopers riding the school bus spot a violator, they will radio another police officer who will then stop the vehicle in question and make an arrest. School systems across the Mountain State, including Mercer County, will be participating in the campaign.
State Superintendent of Schools Jorea Marple correctly argues that a failure by motorists to stop for school buses puts children at risk of injury or death about 120,000 times each school year.
“We must do everything we can to make sure our children are safe,” Marple told the Associated Press Monday.
She is correct. Unfortunately, we see it happen all of the time. A motorist — for whatever reason — fails to yield for a stopped school bus. And by doing so, the motorist is not only breaking the law, but also endangering small children who are either entering or exiting from a school bus.
The Department of Education is working with the Governor’s Highway Safety Program, the Department of Transportation, the West Virginia Prosecuting Attorneys Institute and others to educate the public about the problem. Members of the West Virginia Oil Marketers and Grocers Association also will help by posting public service announcements at their stores.
School buses in the Mountain State travel more than 41 million miles each year transporting more than 230,000 students a day. A study conducted last year in 38 of the state’s 55 counties recorded 408 violations at 445 different locations within a single day. The study concluded that the majority of the violations occurred during the afternoon bus runs with another 42 percent occurring in the morning. Such alarming statistics are simply unacceptable.
At one bus stop alone, 10 vehicles illegally passed a stopped bus, the AP reported. Two students have already been hit this year, and one was seriously injured.
Drivers who fail to stop for a bus and cause an injury can now face up to three years in prison. Conviction for a death can mean 10 years in prison. A driver who fails to stop for a school bus, but doesn’t cause injury to a student, can still be charged with a misdemeanor offense that carries up to six months in jail.
Passing a stopped school bus is never acceptable. All motorists must obey the law, and remain stopped until the stop sign comes down. In no instance should a motorist attempt to pass a school bus.
While school is still in session, everyone must exercise extra caution. Slow down. Stop if you see a school bus with flashing lights. Never attempt to pass or navigate around a school bus with flashing lights.
Those who choose to break the law — and potentially endanger small children — will be caught and punished to the fullest extent of the law.
Editorials
May 1, 2012
Student safety — School bus patrol welcomed
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