Officials warn to stop for school buses
Student concerned for safety
State law requires motorists to stop when school buses are stopped to drop off or pick up students. Photo by EMILY CANNING-DEAN
WADSWORTH – School and city officials alike want to make sure the motoring public realizes they must stop for school buses with flashing red lights, or face the consequences.
According to state law, if a school bus is stopped on a street or road with fewer than four lanes, all traffic in both directions must stop. If a bus is stopped on a street or road with more than four lanes, only the traffic proceeding in the same direction as the bus must stop.
A student who lives off Akron Road recently wrote in to The Post, saying he is concerned about the number of motorists he has witnessed fail to hault for the stopped bus at his bus stop.
“It has become an issue,” he wrote. “I have counted 21 cars this school year. I am fearing for my life when I get off and on the bus. I worry that a car will run the stop sign and hit me.”
According to information on the transportation page of the school district’s website, there is a lot of concern on state Route 261 near Wadsworth Crossings and also on Highland Avenue between state Route 261 and Broad Street.
“It is always a concern and an issue,” said Debbie Miller, transportation supervisor for the Wadsworth City School District.
Miller said that bus drivers are authorized by law to submit a license plate number to the police department or the highway patrol if they witness a motorist failing to stop for the bus.
“There are many times where the vehicle is going too fast and we can’t get a plate number, but during the times we are able to get that number we will submit it to law enforcement,” Miller said.
Police Chief Randall Reinke said that over the last few years the city has received an average of 11 to 16 complaints about motorists failing to stop for school buses.
“Sometimes we might give a warning depending on the circumstances,” Reinke said. “But we do issue a number of citations.”
Reinke said the penalty for the violation is up to a $500 fine and a one-year driver’s license suspension.
According to state law, if a school bus is stopped on a street or road with fewer than four lanes, all traffic in both directions must stop. If a bus is stopped on a street or road with more than four lanes, only the traffic proceeding in the same direction as the bus must stop.
A student who lives off Akron Road recently wrote in to The Post, saying he is concerned about the number of motorists he has witnessed fail to hault for the stopped bus at his bus stop.
“It has become an issue,” he wrote. “I have counted 21 cars this school year. I am fearing for my life when I get off and on the bus. I worry that a car will run the stop sign and hit me.”
According to information on the transportation page of the school district’s website, there is a lot of concern on state Route 261 near Wadsworth Crossings and also on Highland Avenue between state Route 261 and Broad Street.
“It is always a concern and an issue,” said Debbie Miller, transportation supervisor for the Wadsworth City School District.
Miller said that bus drivers are authorized by law to submit a license plate number to the police department or the highway patrol if they witness a motorist failing to stop for the bus.
“There are many times where the vehicle is going too fast and we can’t get a plate number, but during the times we are able to get that number we will submit it to law enforcement,” Miller said.
Police Chief Randall Reinke said that over the last few years the city has received an average of 11 to 16 complaints about motorists failing to stop for school buses.
“Sometimes we might give a warning depending on the circumstances,” Reinke said. “But we do issue a number of citations.”
Reinke said the penalty for the violation is up to a $500 fine and a one-year driver’s license suspension.