Currently, the law in New Jersey makes it illegal for bus drivers to cross yellow lines to block off the road.
Despite the illegality involved, many local bus drivers have recently begun doing it to prevent vehicles from passing the bus on either side of the road while picking up or dropping off children.
In Lakewood, there has been several accidents involving vehicles passing school buses.
100%-it’s sad that this has to become a law. we should have our own value for life that we dont do such careless (never mind illegal) acts that endanger our precious children
I wait on a busy corner with my kids each morning. It is horrific how manyy cars go through the bus flashing stop sign. I always cross my kids in front of the bus. I really think the only solution is to equip busses with cameras and suspend licenses on first offense.
Unfortunately its gotten to a point where such a law should be deemed mandatory not just legal.
Great idea and every bus driver should do this ! It’s very sad how many pep just go through flashing red lights
Legalize it, legalize it, legalize it. If people can’t do the right thing on their own common sense and common decency, then maybe, just maybe, the law will make them have common sense and common decency
Yes, 100%, I have seen too many close calls.
School buses are life-support vehicles containing precious, priceless “car -go”. Please adjust all impacting factors accordingly to severity of potential outcomes. Those who drive the legislation and those who drive everything else. Thank you.
The school bus drivers have been doing it for years
*in Brooklyn
Yes all the busses sjould cross diaganoly if they are picking up kids from the other side of the st. Too many cars pass the bus and its very scary
It looks like my opinion won’t be popular. I agree that the law should be changed, but meanwhile it is illegal for bus drivers to do this. Bus drivers have to follow the law. If we don’t like it, let’s work on changing the law, but don’t suggest that bus drivers are above the law. The reason I feel strongly about this, is because I see bus drivers doing many other illegal things, and I think they need to reassess their attitude. The same legislature that doesn’t allow other drivers to pass a bus with blinking red lights, doesn’t allow the bus driver to cross the yellow line. Once they disrespect the law, it is limitless. Did you know that a bus driver may not block an intersection when dropping off kids? They must stop by the first corner, not using their bus to block perpendicular streets. I confirmed this with the old BOE transportation office, yet, even though they have told their drivers many times to follow the law, they still block intersections. I see them speeding, on their cellphones and more. My kids have told me many dangerous things their bus drivers do. All of the sudden, they care about safety so much, that they cross the yellow lines to protect our kids??? The law is the law. No one is above it!
This is something which sad to say should be made mandatory and buses should be equipped with cameras that would catch offenders with VERY severe penalties (possibly child endangerment charges which carry jail time)
1. I saw a school bus pass a stopped school bus today. Blind trust in drivers is inappropriate
2. I personally believe the stop for stopped school bus laws are ridiculous. It leads to accidents and is inappropriate. The onus should be on the child and his/her guardian, just like a city bus. Traffic will be easier, even if busses end up having to drive both waya down a block.
30 days prison for passing bus on first offense. 180 on second. 3 year on third.
I have also witnessed children starting to cross the street to get to bus before the bus stops. Please teach them to wait until the bus and cars stop. Be safe!
nfortunately its gotten to a point where such a law should be deemed mandatory not just legal. Agree and surprised it isn’t already ..
As a bus driver I always cross the double line to let kids off. Iv had many occasions when people ignored the flashing red lights on my bus and narrowly missing the kids. I’d rather get a ticket and save someone’s life than to be “correct” and see a kid’s life lost by a rushed driver because I was scared of a ticket. Please tell me if I’m wrong!!!
Should be MANDATORY not just legal. Or bus should be required to stop in front of home, which of course would be way too expensive…
Just a thought…. I was driving to work one morning when a bus put on the yellow lights. I was coming the other way down a narrow street so the driver slowed but was allowing me to pass before opening the door. But the child who was boarding the bus didn’t stop to look and started crossing – causing me to almost hit her. The driver was being nice and instead of having me stop she was allowing me to pass yet the child didn’t even look and practically ran into the street.please educate your children accordingly too! Don’t just allow bus drivers to do whatever they want it helps if children are taught to follow the laws too – it will save their life.
Yes Def
People would be more likely to stop if buses wouldn’t make multiple stops per block. Let everyone go to one corner.
Also, why does traffic have to be stopped for grown children to cross? I’ve seen buses stop traffic for 16-17 year-olds to disembark. I think anyone 12 and over can cross safely by themselves.
These are just a few easy fixes that would make people more likely not to pass and keep everyone safer.