Safety Is Priority With Students Exiting Buses
Keeping Water Valley students safe is the top priority for the school district bus drivers and they want the public to know that they will file charges against anyone passing a school bus that is stopped and loading or unloading children. – Photo by Jack Gurner
Reporter
WATER VALLEY – Care-less drivers who don’t stop for school buses that are loading or unloading children face hefty fines under the new Nathan’s Law that went into effect July 1.
And, the Water Valley School District will file charges against anyone violating the law, according to Transportation Director Craig King.
Last Thursday, a car pulled out of a business on Main Street in Water Valley and did not stop for a school bus that was unloading children, King said. “The bus had red lights flashing and a stop sign with red lights flashing. But, the driver apparently didn’t see the big yellow bus with lights flashing and children in the road because they did not stop or even slow down.”
Under the new law, motorists must stop a minimum of ten feet from a school bus when the bus is loading or unloading children. They must not proceed until all children are on the bus or out of the road completely and the red lights have stopped flashing and the stop sign has folded in on the school bus.
While it is already illegal to pass a stopped school bus, Nathan’s Law comes with additional penalties. It also clarified that motorists are to stop for school buses loading or unloading on highways of four lanes or more, regardless of a center median or turn lane.
The first conviction for illegally passing a stopped school bus while loading or unloading carries a fine of at least $350 and up to $750 or a jail sentence of up to one year. A second conviction within a five year period carries a fine between $750 and $1500, another jail sentence of up to one year, and suspension of driver’s license for 90 days.
Nathan’s Law also carries with it a charge of felony assault and a prison sentence of up to 20 years for motorists convicted of illegally passing a school bus that, in the process, results in injury or death. Penalties will be assessed on the vehicle owner regardless of who was driving, so please stress the importance of this to anyone driving yours or any vehicle.
“Please watch for stopped school buses and children,” King said. “Safety is our top priority and we will file charges on anyone caught passing a stopped school bus.”
“We want all of our children to get to and from school safely, and you would not want these charges brought against you, much less have to live with knowing that because of your carelessness, a child was hurt or even worse. Please pay attention when you are driving.”
