Passing a school bus on a parkway in GA

[single317dad]

The stop sign on the big yellow school bus you didn't see had flashing lights?

To back up a bit and set some guidelines for the further discussion, I would like to know exactly why our OP thinks that school buses are equipped with large, retractable, red stop signs with flashing red lights (as well as a multitude of other safety and warning lights and signage) in the first place.

 

[single317dad]

There does not have to be a victim for this to be a crime.

The victim is the State, as representative of the public welfare.

 

[single317dad]

I'm also pretty sure that the ga state unloading procedures for school bus drivers tell them to stay on the main highway.

Well, that's just ridiculous. If there's a long, empty, unsecured turn lane to the right of the bus, the odds of someone passing the bus on the right just as the child disembarks are far too high. People are stupid (as is displayed here). Those big heavy yellow buses make excellent roadblocks for the safety of the children, and laws are designed to use them as such.





Sorry for triple posting.

 

[Mustangsally85]

To back up a bit and set some guidelines for the further discussion, I would like to know exactly why our OP thinks that school buses are equipped with large, retractable, red stop signs with flashing red lights (as well as a multitude of other safety and warning lights and signage) in the first place.

I would have stopped if I saw the bus, trust me. Or it's fancy lights. I only know of the lights because of the video footage. My husband and I share a car, hard to say who was driving that day as well.

 

[Mustangsally85]

The stop sign on the big yellow school bus you didn't see had flashing lights?

Video footage. Not just pictures but an actual video clip.

 

[Mustangsally85]

Any traffic lawyers on this thread? Or just a bunch of angry school bus drivers?

 

[Mustangsally85]

Kids aren't logical - which is why the law requires you to stop.

If that's the case then the cars on the other side of median coming the other way need to stop as well. But no it's okay for them to keep going b/c there is a median seperating the logical children right?

 

[HighwayMan]

#9 on this link:

http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/buses/BusDriverSafety/LoadingUnloading/LoadingUnloadingHANDOUT3_version1.doc

It does say stay to the right but it also says stay in the traffic lane unless state law says otherwise.

That's a NHTSA information pamphlet - hardly rules/regulations/laws.

 

[davew128]

Your kid may have been a junior high honor roll student but my 14 year old shih tzu knows enough to look both ways before crossing the street. Eliminating school bus laws? Culling the herd...

 

[single317dad]

Your kid may have been a junior high honor roll student but my 14 year old shih tzu knows enough to look both ways before crossing the street. Eliminating school bus laws? Culling the herd...

While I normally find humor (and agree to some extent) with snarky comments like this, in this particular case you're just wrong. School bus laws exist to protect children, who are still learning and developing the mental skills to process information to keep themselves safe, from grown adults who would otherwise do stupid things with impunity. It's not necessarily the stupid child who dies, in other words.

Your shih tzu may look both ways before crossing the street, but if I'm driving on the sidewalk that won't help her. See?

 

[not2cleverRed]

Bottom line: you broke the law and there is evidence. In addition to the video, anyone on that bus who saw you, including the bus driver, can be considered a witness, so stop it with that line of reasoning and blathering on about your constitutional rights being violated.

Legally: you could try to beg for leniency, since you are claiming that you were unaware that the Stop Arm was out, and you would never do this intentionally, except... you don't seem to believe that. So it's rather difficult imagining you making a convincing argument of that.

Arguing that the camera is illegal will get you NOWHERE and just p*** off a judge. The fact is, it's currently the law, and there are many other ways your actions could have been observed and reported.

Arguing that the law is wrong will get you NOWHERE and just p*** off a judge.

EVEN IF. Even if you were in the left turn turn, you would have to stop/yield for the bus.

 

[Just Blue]

Your kid may have been a junior high honor roll student but my 14 year old shih tzu knows enough to look both ways before crossing the street. Eliminating school bus laws? Culling the herd...

Really? How flipping disgusting can you be? The children...Be they 6, 10 or 16...LEAGLLY expect the traffic to stop. AS IT IS THE LAW. The ADULTS that are DRIVING ILLEGALLY are the ones to be "culled".


Gees Davew....
Just when I don't think you can get more offensive...You surpass my expectations. Hoorah.

 

[I'mTheFather]

I don't think OP needs any more advice. I sincerely hope she goes to court with the arguments she has presented here. Every single one of them.

 

[Just Blue]

Any traffic lawyers on this thread? Or just a bunch of angry school bus drivers?

Read the TOS nitwit.

You want a "Traffic Lawyer in your state? PAY for it.

 

[davew128]

Really? How flipping disgusting can you be? The children...Be they 6, 10 or 16...LEAGLLY expect the traffic to stop. AS IT IS THE LAW. The ADULTS that are DRIVING ILLEGALLY are the ones to be "culled".


Gees Davew....
Just when I don't think you can get more offensive...You surpass my expectations. Hoorah.

Lighten up Francis. You're not as important as you think you are.