School Bus Violations Climb to Number One Type of Traffic Citation Across Georgia

School is back in session and already, school bus violations have become the leading traffic offense in DeKalb County and other counties across the state. DeKalb police report citing over 75 drivers in the area for breaking laws related to school buses. A DeKalb County sheriff expressed his outrage over the sheer number of citations, stating that drivers are disregarding how their behavior behind the wheel could threaten the safety of our children.

The DeKalb Sheriff's Office has been writing an average of five tickets per school day since the school year began, equating to 79 citations in just about three weeks. Deputies have targeted areas where school buses make frequent stops. While cameras are not yet installed on buses for the purpose of recording offenders, authorities have created a unit dedicated to school bus traffic enforcement.

Legally, all drivers must stop for a school bus with its arms out and lights activated. Failure to do so can result in a three hundred dollar fine for just the first offense. Authorities suspect that drivers are breaking school bus transportation laws at high rates because they are distracted. Inattentive drivers may not notice a stopped school bus ahead or on the other side of the road.

Back to School Safety Tips for Drivers

The National Safety Council offers the following safety tips for drivers as school is underway this year:

• If driving behind a bus, allow for a greater following distance than you would a car so that you have more time to stop in the event the bus comes to a halt.
• If a school buses' yellow or red lights are flashing or the stop arm extended, all traffic must stop, including vehicles on the opposite side of a road without a permanent median.
• Never pass a bus from behind if it is stopped to load or unload children.
• The 10 feet in front and back of the bus is the most dangerous for children; as such, stop far enough back to allow children with plenty of space to enter and exit buses.
• Be alert when traveling near a school bus or zone as children can be unpredictable and might not adhere to traffic safety rules, including crosswalk regulations.

Police report that the most common mistake of drivers is failing to stop for a halted bus. To make sure you follow this simple rule, pay attention to the road ahead and be on the lookout for school buses on either side of the street. With your help, we can keep the roads safe for our Georgia children.

Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law: Put Our 39 Years of Experience to Work on Your Case

We hope these safety tips help to keep children across the state safe while traveling on a school bus. If you or a loved one is injured in an automobile or other related accident, the Georgia Car Accident Attorneys at Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, are here to help. Our firm has over 39 years of experience in the industry and we accept cases across Georgia and in the Southeast. The sooner you act after your accident, the greater your chances of obtaining a full recovery for your injuries. As such, seek legal assistance as soon as possible. Call Montlick & Associates, Attorneys at Law, 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour Live Online Chat.

Source:
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/school-bus-violations-top-list-traffic-citations-i/nnTs4/