MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. — Montgomery County Public Schools say, every year they remind drivers to stop when they see a school bus's extended arm and flashing lights, but reminders and fines don’t seem to always work.
“I can tell you that it still occurs and occurs far too many times each year, which is why the police who are equally concerned as we are put out statements like they most recently did. People become impatient and they think it's okay to drive around a bus. It absolutely is not," said Chris Cram, Communications Director for Montgomery County Public Schools.
Traffic in both directions must come to a stop until the bus’s arm folds totally back and the blinking bus lights stop. If a school bus camera catches a violation, it’s a $250 fine.
If police catch the violation, the penalties are even greater, but there’s no measure to the possible human toll.
“The cost is just incredible, potentially to the harm to students who may be crossing the street and to yourself," said Cram.
Montgomery County Public Schools say of the 160,000 students enrolled in the county, 100,000 use school buses.
“When that stop arm comes out, you need to expect that students might be trying to cross the street, and an excited student is not looking for you," said Cram. "The adult needs to be looking for them.”
Montgomery County Public Schools say if you’d like to report concerns about a bus stop, you can reach the transportation hotline at (240) 740-7790.