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New law designed to help protect children on busses

South Carolina Highway Patrol Lance Cpl. Dwight Green and veteran bus driver Handy Gloster were two of the people who spoke about school bus safety Thursday during a press conference at Whittaker Elementary School in Orangeburg. (Photo by Christopher Huff)

State and local officials announced a state law concerning stopped school buses has not only been amended but clarified as well. Additionally, routes have been redesigned in an effort to make South Carolina's school bus passengers safer this academic year.

S.C. Department of Public Safety officials say new legislation has been put into place changing the circumstances in which a passing motorist must stop for a school bus.

"As children begin returning to school around our state this week, our first priority is to get them to school and in their seats safely," said Maj. E.C. Johnson of the South Carolina Highway Patrol. "I can tell you that I hear stories every day of motorists placing our children in danger. I can assure you, we are committed in this district to doing everything we can to assist in this effort to keep our children safe."

Prior to the opening of school last year, state legislators revised a law concerning motorists passing a stopped school bus.

This year, that law has been revised once more to do away with technicalities which made the previous version vague and unclear. The change went into effect Aug. 1.

"The new law says you no longer have to stop on multi-lane highways for a school bus that is in one of the oncoming lanes," SCHP Troop 7 spokesman Lance Cpl. Dwight Green said. "If you are traveling in the same direction as the school bus, then you will be required to stop."

Previously, the requirement to stop depended on the presence of a concrete or other type of median. Motorists were unsure of what constituted a median, causing uncertainty among drivers encountering a stopped school bus with warning devices activated.

"The old law was somewhat confusing as to when drivers had to stop on a four-lane highway," SCHP Col. Russell Roark said. "The new law not it only makes it safer for students to get on and off the bus, but it simplifies the law for motorists as well."

The law further stipulates that a school bus route which requires passengers to be loaded or off-loaded along a multi-lane highway must be designed to ensure that a student is not required to cross the highway.

In order to comply with the new law, school officials have redesigned bus routes.

In South Carolina, 5,600 school buses transport approximately 335,000 students to school each day.

Dr. Charlie Spell, Orangeburg Consolidated District 5 assistant superintendent for support services, said the new routes have been balanced with the safety of the children in mind along with keeping costs at a minimum. The routes show little or no increase in route mileage, he said.

"It was done with the greatest of care," Spell said.

Highway Patrol and school officials both stressed that the stop arm located on the front of school buses has not become obsolete. Motorists on a two-lane roadway are required to stop any time a school bus activates its warning devices.

After stopping for a stopped school bus, drivers must not proceed until the bus resumes motion or the flashing red lights have been turned off.

Statistics show the greatest point of danger to bus passengers is not riding a school bus but approaching or exiting a bus, Spell said.

"Nationally, over the past 10 years, on average, about three-quarters of school-age children who die in school bus related crashes each year are pedestrians," Spell said. "Pedestrian fatalities, while loading or unloading school buses, account for about three times as many school bus-related fatalities when compared to school bus-occupant fatalities."

In order to increase the focus on stop arm violations, the S.C. Highway Patrol implemented a program last year consisting of a trooper riding a school bus to watch for violations of the law.

"Last year was the first year HP conducted this campaign, and we issued a total of 232 citations for passing a stopped school bus," Johnson said.

A first-offense penalty for passing a stopped school bus carries a fine of up to $1,000 and a possible 30-day jail sentence.

"A program such as this is vital because it is a partnership between the school bus driver, the schools, the districts and law enforcement," Greg Carson, Orangeburg Consolidated School District 5 spokesman, said "It allows us to report problems on the school bus routes to the Highway Patrol and know that law-enforcement action will be taken."

As someone who's seen his share of close calls, Handy Gloster, a school bus driver for more than 10 years, said he's in favor of the revised stop arm law.

"Our children, I think, they're too young to judge the car's speed as they come down the highway," Gloster said. "They would have to cross two lanes, then two more lanes just to get on the bus" under the old law.

"I think it's a good idea," Gloster said.

Those wishing to view the revised school bus legislation can go to: www.lpitr.state.sc.us/sess115_2003-2004/bills/3333.htm

When does a driver stop for a school bus?

Motorists must always stop when they are traveling behind a bus with flashing amber or red lights. Motorists approaching a stopped school bus with flashing red lights from the opposite direction, drivers must stop if they are on a two-lane road.

If motorists are on a four-lane (or more) highway or private road and meet a stopped school bus, they do not have to stop.

However, drivers should slow down and proceed with caution.

T&D Staff Writer Richard Walker can be reached by e-mail at rwalker@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5516.