Watch for children, stop for buses
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School is starting around the Mission Valley, and that means big yellow school buses on Lake County roads. That means buses stopping to pick up or unload students.
Mike Anderson, Polson School District 23 transportation services director, had advice for drivers.
“If the overhead red lights on a school bus are on, stop — period. That’s one of our biggest safety concerns,” Anderson said. “The law says drivers have to stop.”
District 23 school bus drivers constantly complain about other drivers “running” or passing their buses when the red lights are flashing and the stop sign on the side of the buses are extended.
“We have video cameras looking out the front of our buses, recording license numbers,” Anderson said.
The school district is working with the Lake County Sheriff’s Department and the Montana Highway Patrol to stop drivers from ignoring school bus lights.
“We’ve had kids almost run over,” Anderson said.
In fact, a driver ran into the back of a school bus on Highway 35 last spring. Although no students were seriously injured, the wreck was a wake-up call for drivers.
When the yellow lights are on, the bus is preparing to stop, Anderson said.
Another tip is not to follow the school bus too closely.
Around schools the speed limit is 15 miles per hour, Anderson said.
Parents should not park in the school bus zones during drop-off and pick-up times.
Young students with backpacks full of new pencils and crayons will be thinking about seeing their friends and meeting their new teacher so watch out for kids running between cars, especially during the first days of school.
The goal is to get all students to school safely so they can learn.
