The National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services has released the results of its fifth annual illegal passing survey. A total of 26 states and 20 percent of the nation’s school bus drivers took part in reporting the total number of motorists who illegally passed their stopped school buses.
More than 102,000 school bus drivers indicated that 78,518 motorists passed their buses in a single day. In the span of a 180-day school year, this can add up to over 14 million violations.
NADSPTS began conducting the survey in 2011, and according to a statement from the organization, the results have remained fairly steady throughout the years. That first year, a total of 76,685 violations were reported. The following year, there were 88,025. In 2013 drivers reported 85,279 and 75,966 last year.
“We know that students are far safer in school buses, but when they are outside the bus, they are more vulnerable to injury or death,” said Leon Langley, NASDPTS president. “There are nearly half a million school buses on the road each day in the United States. This survey captured only a fraction of the violations that bus drivers and traffic officers know all too well are ocurring each and every day.”
Langley went on to add that choosing to pass a stopped school bus in order to save a few seconds may have dire consequences if a child is injured or killed in an incident.
NASDPTS said in the statement that reduction in the illegal passing of school buses requires a “comprehensive approach” that involves awareness efforts for students, motorists and school bus drivers, visible enforcement and advances in school bus equipment and other forms of technology.
Charlie Hood, executive director of NASDPTS says that although the numbers do not appear to change much from year to year, school districts and law enforcement use the information in the survey to increase efforts to curb illegal passing, which in turn contributes to a safer environment for children.
“We know that in spite of the recurring numbers, this is a not a futile effort. Some local districts, like Volusia County School District in Florida, routinely use these surveys to identify specific areas with a high incidence of violations. They then follow up with local law enforcement agencies to concentrate enforcement efforts in those areas and reduce the opportunity for tragic crashes. The result is that this tool helps local school districts keep kids safer,” he said.
