This morning I got stuck behind a school bus in Woodstock on northbound Seminary Avenue at Jackson, which was stopped for a long time with its red lights flashing. When I pulled up behind it, I could see no students boarding, but there were 4-5 women (parents?) milling around the front door of the bus.
After a minute of two the parents walked away. It was bitter cold and the wind was blowing, making the windchill factor about -10 degrees F. And still the bus did not move. I missed the class on Patience, and I honked the horn to let the driver know that cars were waiting behind the bus.
And still the bus didn't move. And the red lights continued to flash. Not being one who wanted to be the recipient of a $250 ticket for passing a stopped school bus (and the court costs and the 90-day loss of license), I waited. Then I honked again.
Finally the driver turned off the red lights, and oncoming traffic passed. And still the bus didn't move. Perhaps the driver was being passive-aggressive and making me wait longer, as retaliation for my impatience. So be it. There was no opportunity to pass, because the bus was stopped in the traffic lane, out from the curb, and right at the intersection with East Jackson Street.
I suspected that a disabled or wheelchair-bound student had boarded this bus. In a call to the D200 Transportation Department I was told that the bus must remain stopped until the disabled student's wheelchair has been secured, because the State says so. Also, that the red lights must continue to flash until the student's wheelchair has been secured.
The bus could remain stopped, as the driver is probably the only person on board to secure the student. But the red lights could be turned off and the yellow lights activated, which would allow motorists to pass the stopped bus. Apparently, the State Board of Education doesn't like that, but it makes sense to me.
Huge traffic delays also occur on Route 47, when a bus stops for a disabled student to board or get off. There is no reason in the world to halt traffic while a student in a wheelchair is assisted off the bus. The student is not going to run out in traffic and get hit by a passing car!
I shall be first to want the student and the bus driver to be safe. But common sense needs to prevail. Bus routes should be slightly adjusted to accommodate not only students, but also motorists. The bus for the student on Route 47 could pull around the corner on Grove Street. Or, at the least, shut off the red lights after the student is on the bus, and leave the yellow lights flashing for the time it takes to secure the wheelchair. If the student is leaving the bus, turn on the red lights only during the time that the student is leaving the bus.
Any thoughts on this?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
While googling wheelchair tie-downs, I came across your complaint. I am a special needs busdriver. Your comment, I quote,
"There is no reason in the world to halt traffic while a student in a wheelchair is assisted off the bus."
No reason! How about the safety of the special needs child, driver and aide! Regular bus routes also keep the stop arm out until all students are safely seated or have crossed safely! My bus was hit while standing in my parked bus and suffered a severe back injury!
While googling wheelchair tie-downs, I came across your complaint. I am a special needs busdriver. Your comment, I quote,
"There is no reason in the world to halt traffic while a student in a wheelchair is assisted off the bus."
No reason! How about the safety of the special needs child, driver and aide! Regular bus routes also keep the stop arm out until all students are safely seated or have crossed safely! My bus was hit while standing in my parked bus and suffered a severe back injury!
another thought........if you know the bus is there the same time Monday - Friday why don't you take a differant route yourself!
Thanks for posting your comment. Number one, I favor safety for the children, the driver and the bus.
Number two, if the disabled child will not be crossing the street (and bus routes are planned to avoid that), then leaving the yellow lights on while preparing the student for exiting the bus is sufficient warning. If a driver can't see a large yellow vehicle with orange flashing lights, he probably won't see it with red flashing lights.
No improvement in safety results from leaving the red lights are for 3-5 minutes while the student in a wheelchair boards or exits a schoolbus.
Again, I thank you for your comment.
Its sounds that until you have a special needs child or children in general you will be ignorant for their safety. People on a daily basis run schoolbus stop arms. It is an IL law to stop for schoolbus stop arms! Instead of writing to the paper with your gripe, maybe you should call your local school transportation department. Better yet, visit a child that has been hit by a car while crossing or whose bus has been rear-ended while being loaded or unloaded and get their personal view on this matter. But you are right with your statement, "If a driver can't see a large yellow vehicle with orange flashing lights, he probably won't see it with red flashing lights." It happens everyday!
Thanks for your additional comment. As a matter of fact, I am a step-parent of a child with special needs and I've stayed in Woodstock for 9 years since his mother and I divorced, so that I can be active in his life.
My issue is with the "wait" time for motorists while the wheelchair-bound student is prepared for exiting the bus. If he will remain on the exit side of the bus and not cross the street, the red flashing lights are needed only while he is actually leaving the bus. Usually there is a parent or assistant, and that person will not push him into the street.
Safety is paramount; needless precautions are not.
And I am all in favor of posting cops on schoolbuses and having pursuit cars nearby. I agree that there are too many violations around schoolbuses.
Post a Comment