(Publisher’s Note: This story was published last August following the first week of classes in Ohio County Schools, and we are re-publishing it now in order to raise awareness about an ongoing problem in the Upper Ohio Valley. Plus, in order for co-publisher and Editor Steve Novotney to relax on vacation with his family and friends, LEDE News has been re-publishing some of our original content throughout this week. Steve’s work will return later this week.)
Seven.
Seven in four days.
That’s how many motorists decided to ignore the flashing lights on a large, bright yellow school bus that features an extended Stop Sign from its left side. The violations during the academic year’s first week occurred in Warwood, Fulton, Woodsdale, Elm Grove, and Edgwood.
“Seven? How is it that possible already? That’s ridiculous,” said Dr. Kim Miller, superintendent of Ohio County Schools. “In four days? Thank goodness we have very caring bus drivers transporting our students because of I know those men and woman have helped us avoid tragedies.
“Seven in four days, though, is scary. That means it’s getting worse,” she said. “After all of the work that’s gone into educating the public, it’s supposed to improve. People are supposed to care about children.”
It was in 1977 when the mechanized stop signs were installed on school buses in Ohio County, according to Randy McCardle, a member of the district’s transportation department. He was 20 years old at the time, and he recalls a time when drivers had their own red flags they would use to protect their passengers.
“Those guys would stop, shut the bus down completely, and escort the student across the street to safety because it was bad back then, too,” McCardle recalled. “Sounds like that’s what we might have to do again if people don’t start paying better attention. No one wants to see a child get hurt or worse.”
Invisible?
Along with the stop sign extensions, each school bus in Ohio County is equipped with a multitude of right and white flashing lights, and observation camera systems on the interior and exterior of each vessel.
Some of the buses can fit more than 50 children while others offer less room because the vehicles are appropriately equipped for special needs students.
“And yet most of the motorists caught passing the buses say they didn’t see the school buses or the stop sign off the side of them,” McCardle said. “These days, the entire Stop arm is lit up, but the sad part is none of this has stopped the people from running the stop signs on the school buses. There may be more distractions for people today, but there have been billions of dollars spent in this country to keep the kids safe and we haven’t accomplished a thing.
“People just drive right through the stop signs and I just don’t understand it. Not when a child’s life is at stake anyway,” he said. “That’s the most frustrating part of it all. We’re talking about children here. We’re talking about their young lives, but when it comes to getting to where an adult wants to go, the life of a child doesn’t seem to matter to them. I’m sorry, but if you can’t see a school bus on the road, you shouldn’t be driving.”
Too Close for Comfort
Crumm and Dr. Miller are positive parents of children who depend on school buses for transportation to and from their respective schools will be upset when they learn the statistic from the first week of classes.
But, the administrators wonder, can enough noise be made to put an end to the dangerous decision making by motorists in Ohio County?
“Our parents are very concerned about this situation,” Crumm reported. “Last year we had around 40 motorists go through the bus stop signs and that was very concerning to us. That is something for our parents to be concerned with, and that is why we do everything we can to raise awareness about the situation, the laws, and the safety factors involved. But still, it continues to happen and we’ve started the school year with seven in four days.
“That’s not a good situation at all and that’s why we let the authorities do their job after we’ve given them all of the information we can,” he said. “It’s puzzling to all of us.”
Dr. Miller, now in her seventh year as superintendent of Ohio County Schools, believes a united front is necessary to curb the issue.
“I’d be very surprised if any of these drivers have kids in our schools,” she said. “If they do, I’d be amazed.
“But that’s why I believe our administrators, all of our teachers and staff members, our media partners, and all of our parents and grandparents need to help spread the word if we’re going to reach everyone in the county,” Miller insisted. “That’s what it’s going to take, I believe. If we can do that, maybe our kids will be safe out there and we can avoid a tragedy.”
