As kids head back to school and buses begin rolling again, Wayne County Sheriff’s Office reminds drivers speeding around a bus or ignoring a stop arm is reckless and illegal.
“Ensuring the safety of our children is our top priority. Drivers must stop for school bus stop arms — no exceptions,” said Sheriff Randy Retter in a news release. “It’s a matter of protecting our kids and our community. We all play a role in keeping our streets safe. Don’t let careless driving take a child’s life or change yours forever.”
Indiana Department of Transportation says motorists must stop when school buses stop and activate their flashing lights and stop arms. To some drivers’ surprise, that rule even applies on multi-lane roadways such as U.S. 40 where there are no barriers.
The only exception is a multi-lane roadway with a grassy and/or concrete barrier. In that situation, all vehicles behind the stopped bus must stop. Vehicles approaching from the opposite side aren’t required to stop.
At Centerville’s July 30 town council meeting, Police Chief Ed Buchholz said residents should pay attention to additional traffic near schools as they reopen and drive cautiously.
Buchholz said most of the district’s buses are equipped with stop-arm cameras and school officials provide recordings for police to find those who pass buses illegally.
“If we don’t catch you when you do it, we’ll pay you a visit later with a ticket,” Buchholz said.
A version of this article appeared in the August 7 2024 print edition of the Western Wayne News.