Would you stop for this school bus? Update Post #45

[SandrA9810]

well you can black out street names, and if it's an aerial photo, you shouldn't be able to see any signs there might be of the subdivision name. I've done many google map pictures for posting.
I'm sure your subdivision looks like a million others across this nation.

 

[MidgeD79]

I am a busdriver. Yellow lights flashing on a bus are the same as a yellow flashing traffic light - slow down and use caution. They are used as a warning that the lights will turn red (on the bus). If I notice there is a lot of traffic behind me, I put on my turn signal andpull off to the side (if it's safe). 9 times out of 10 the car(s) will sit there. I can wave my arm like crazy, but it doesn't usually help. The best thing is to know the law - yellow caution and red stop.

 

[golfgal]

Can you draw a picture and post it

This road you are on dead ends into your development, is that correct? There is no crossroad at the entrance? I would say that even with a small median that you should stop for the bus.

 

[Mimi1965]

I can visualize it-it is simply a road into the gated sudivision
Bus stops BEFORE entering -before the gate
Lisa is exiting the subdivision
There is a 6 foot wide raised "hump" between them

Bus never enters the subdivision-right before the gate is a connection lane that bus has the manuvear forward, turn backward-etc-in other words it takes time for the bus to turn around after he gets the kids

I would not stop-the kids are all on the side where the bus is-they are not crossing in front of Lisa

 

[LisaR]

*UPDATE*
I DO NOT need to stop!

I emailed our states DOE School Transportation Department last night. Basically, my email was as clear as mud like most of you discovered.

She gave me her phone number and I just got off the phone with her. She was able to bring up the exact location and help me get to the bottom of this. There are two factors that come into play.

1. It IS divided by a median. Because the driver chooses to pull slightly past the median does not mean it isn't still divided.

2. I hadn't even noticed that there is a bit of a cut away for the bus. As the bus approaches, it veers ever so slightly to the right. That technically makes the bus "off the road."

I have noticed both yesterday morning and today that only the red lights are flashing and the stop signs are not out. Apparently, that is against the rules and the driver will be getting a phone call. Oops! I didn't want to get anyone in trouble but she really does need to follow the rules.

Anyway, thanks so much for trying to help me solve this. It motivated me to get to the bottom of it. I guess all my fellow neighbors has reason to honk at me.

 

[Becky2005]

Anyway, thanks so much for trying to help me solve this. It motivated me to get to the bottom of it. I guess all my fellow neighbors has reason to honk at me.

I'm glad you got it resolved. If you are friendly with the others that stop (I thought you said you have seen others stop too), you could pass the word along because they are probably as confused as you were.

 

[shortbun]

School bus driver here. I can't quite imagine your scene there but if you have any doubt about the need or requirement to stop-do it. The people around you need a dose of patience but the key here is the safety of your child and all the children in the bus. Most bus drivers will not wave you around because IF there is an accident, they would be responsible. If the bus is in the intersection and stopped, you must stop going either way. Tell your daughter the people honking and throwing up fingers are real idiots; they are.

 

[HM]

I would stop. I'd want to err on the side of caution. I don't think you'll ever be ticketed for stopping unnecessarily (or could you), but I'd hate to be ticketed because you didn't. What if a kid came running past you at the last minute to make the bus?

Try to drown out the honkers with music on your radio. Those must be some impatient people behind you.

 

[daisyduck123]

in your situation, I'd leave home either 5 minutes earlier or 5 minutes later and avoid the whole issue!

ITA...I would actually be leaving BEFORE the bus arrives. No harm in getting to work 5-10 min. early.

 

[LisaR]

I would stop. I'd want to err on the side of caution. I don't think you'll ever be ticketed for stopping unnecessarily (or could you), but I'd hate to be ticketed because you didn't. What if a kid came running past you at the last minute to make the bus?

Try to drown out the honkers with music on your radio. Those must be some impatient people behind you.

I know it is very hard to visualize but this would be almost impossible. The kids line up INSIDE the gate on the entrance side of the subdivision. There isn't anywhere for them to stand on the exit side of the gate.

Once the bus arrives, they walk out the pedestrian gate and load up. If some kid was running late, they would not be on the other side of the road. There aren't any houses or sidewalks there. They would be running through a drainage ditch if they wanted to use the other side of the street. I have never seen a single adult or child in that area since moving here 6 years ago.

Now, I know kids do stupid things so I will never say it couldn't happen but it really isn't a factor. I am not willing to post a map to my subdivision so you will just have to trust me that there isn't anywhere for a kid to walk, stand or run on the side opposite the bus unless they want to get eaten by snakes and gators.

 

[LisaR]

ITA...I would actually be leaving BEFORE the bus arrives. No harm in getting to work 5-10 min. early.

I don't know how the buses run in other parts of the country but they are not down to the exact second here. I have left early and late and still run into the bus. Of course, I am not encountering this bus every day. I do miss it some mornings. I wish it was as easy as leaving 5 minutes early. Now, I could leave 15 or 20 minutes early and I would be assured of missing it but I am leaving to drive my teen to class. I don't know about anyone other teens but I can assure you that getting my teen out the door 15 or 20 minutes early in the morning would make for a very unpleasant morning in my house.

 

[dicar123]

A number of years ago I drove past a school bus in my husband's car.

I can't recall the situation exactly, but I wasn't sure I needed to stop, then decided to stop and then realized no one else seemed to be stopping, so I crept past.

All of the sudden, out of the blue, my husband was stomping around ticked off that someone had accused HIM of driving past a school bus, why he'd NEVER do such an evil thing! He hadn't been on that road in MONTHS!

They didn't send a ticket, just a letter with the relevant law and date and time of the incident. I was mortified.