When does a bus pull out the stop sign?

[kejoda]

My son rides a special ed. bus. We have had major problems this year. Today the bus driver did not pull the sign out until John was in the street. I went out there and talked to her about it. She said that she looked and didn't see any cars coming so she didn't pull it out. I told her that was unacceptable and she needs to do it before the kids get to the street.

I've already tried to call the head of trans. He is in meetings until this afternoon. I just wanted to get your thoughts about it. Am I being picky or is she wrong?

 

[SwedishMeatball]

She's definitely wrong. That's fine that she checked for traffic, but it doesn't matter. It should be a habit, like an instinct, to ALWAYS put the sign out. It just should not be an option.

 

[Not so Dumbo]

I believe they have to pull it out at the same time they turn on the red flashing lights. It's great she looked for traffic and all but that's not the rule. Sounds like she was being a bit lazy.

 

[Beth76]

Our stop sign opens when the door opens. It's on the same lever. I remember it being like this 20 years ago when I rode the bus. Is yours not like that?

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

Every bus that I ever sped by had the stop sign out.

But seriously, like the pp, I think they're on the same lever and I've never seen a stopped bus that didn't have it out.

 

[kejoda]

I don't know Beth. She is on the other side of the street. I know if they pick him up on our side she doesn't have to pull it out. I might just insist on them going around the block.

This bus company sucks. School district contracts the special ed busing out to them. I'm going to have to find out why.

 

[jen0610]

Around here, the buses have two set of lights. When the bus is coming up on the stops, they have to push the button to turn on the yellow lights. As soon as the bus gets to the stop and the driver opens the doors, the lights switch automaticlly to red. Gives all the drivers plent of notice that the bus will be stopping soon.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Our stop sign opens when the door opens. It's on the same lever. I remember it being like this 20 years ago when I rode the bus. Is yours not like that?

This is how I thought all buses were designed. Many enos ago our buses worked like this too.

 

[cardaway]

Some "short busses" don't have the same sign systems as larger busses. Many are not designed to be school busses (some are used for adult transit) and the signs are added later.

I agree that the driver should be told to always use the sign. Takes away the chance for an error in judgment.

 

[kejoda]

Cardaway is right. The special ed. buses are the short ones and they don't always have automatic stop signs. This is the first year the bus door is facing the other side of the street. Years past they always pick up John on our side and they don't have to put the stop sign out for 1 child.

I've been trying to get of the special ed trans. manager so far no luck today. Try again tomorrow.

 

[tiggerlover]

Our stop sign opens when the door opens. It's on the same lever.

This is my recollection as well. I am pretty sure that is what happens on DS's bus too. I will have to look next time to be sure.

 

[cardaway]

This is my recollection as well. I am pretty sure that is what happens on DS's bus too. I will have to look next time to be sure.

That usually is the case for busses designed to be used as school busses. That is not the case however for the busses used for special ed. In many cases they use busses actually designed for public transportion that do not come with things like signs and school bus markings.

 

[kejoda]

Around here they do use school buses. They are just about half the size of regular buses and some have chair lifts. This one does not have chair lifts since all the kids riding are mobile.

Regular buses have 1 stop for a group of kids. Special ed buses stop at each kids house to pick them up. Generally they also stop so the door is on the side of the house the kid lives on. I'm thinking she is too lazy to go around the block. I really don't have a problem with John crossing the street the stop sign just needs to be there. She better have it out tomorrow or heads will roll. I've dealt with too many problems with the bus this year to put up with much more.

And DisneyAddict_M LOL! Your bad

 

[Chicago526]

OP, no you're not being picky. If you were calling for the driver's head on a plater, that'd be over the top, but if you just want to talk to the supervisor in a resonable way and make it clear that you want the red lights/sign out at the same time, then that's okay. Only become a pain in the butt if the driver keeps doing that.

What drives me nuts in my area are the busses that are pulled over with the yellows flashing. I c-r-a-w-l past them waiting for either a kid to dart out into the street or the yellow lights to change to read and the "stop" sign whip out. Turns out the driver is just parked while waiting for their route start time or something. Meanwhile I just gave myself whiplash turning my head to look both ways for some kid to dash out in front of me!

 

[momma leaps]

When the doors on the bus open the stop slides out.

Even if she didn't "see" a car she is obligated to put the sign out.

If a car was to pass and hit a child and there was NO stop sign technically the car would not be in the wrong.


Bus drivers are human and humans make mistakes. I'd demand the sign come out each and every time !! Plus, the "car" that she didn't see could have been in her blind spot !!!

 

[Scutapipig]

If it is a special education bus, then they should always pick your son up directly in front of your house. Whether the signs come out automatically or not, they need to come out as she is slowing to stop even if she has to manually make that move to do so.

I wouldn't give them an option. I would simply tell them that they will pick your son up directly in front of your house and that the driver will place the signs out as she is slowing to a stop. If there are yellow flashers, those should be in place as she begins to slow, with the red flashers and red signs coming out immediately upon stopping.

If your son has an IEP, you can also specify "door to door transportation" which would allow him to be picked up at the end of your driveway.

I went through this with my son and his driver and by NOT using the correct flashers and signs, it actually caused chaos with traffic since no one ever knew if they had to proceed with caution or stop.

 

[CEDmom]

Our bus driver (same for am & pm) puts on the lights about a 1/2 block from the stop and puts out the stop sign as she's slowing at the stop. We're in a development not on a main road so there's not that much traffic.

 

[momma leaps]

Our bus driver (same for am & pm) puts on the lights about a 1/2 block from the stop and puts out the stop sign as she's slowing at the stop. We're in a development not on a main road so there's not that much traffic.

As are we. Yet, the cars zoom down the street. Everyone is always in a hurry !!!

 

[NAB]

I don't even notice when she puts the stop sign out. I think it is like Cedmom said when she stops. I really don't think the cars look at that stop sign anyway. It is the flashing lights that stop the cars I would think. Some do pass even with both out. Are the lights flashing? Isn't that what you are taught when learning to drive flashing lights means stop....

 

[thegales]

If possible, could you have your son wait until the Stop Sign is out prior to crossing the street? That might be the incentive to have the bus driver put out the Stop Sign in a more timely manner.

For you information, I have seen this in the case of regular school buses. The kids wait on the other side of the road until the red flashers are on and the Stop Sign is out prior to entering the road to cross it.