Failure to stop for school buses happening too frequently in Widefield School District 3
Scott Harrison
EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — A new state law that expanded the stopping requirements for traffic around school buses apparently isn’t working so well in Widefield School District 3.
The law, reported by KRDO 13’s The Road Warrior in early August, before classes resumed, requires drivers — especially those traveling in the opposite direction — to stop for buses that have their stop arms deployed and flashing lights on while loading and unloading students.
Drivers in the opposite direction, however, don’t have to stop if there is a median or other physical barrier separating directions of traffic.
A Widefield school bus driver recently contacted The Road Warrior, saying that drivers frequently violate the law.
At one stop in particular — according to Jason Schwartz, the district’s transportation director — up to seven violations occur daily during the high school and middle school pickups between 6:30 a.m. and 7 a.m.
That stop is along Highway 85/87, just north of Glenarm Road.
Schwartz said that the district normally averages 75 violations annually, but the trend toward more violations began several years ago, even before the new law.
Many school buses are equipped with cameras that can record violations, and school district officials can forward the video to law enforcement agencies for further action.
However, Schwartz said that in most instances, the violating drivers are traveling too quickly for the cameras to capture their license plate numbers.
The Road Warrior was at the Widefield bus stop this morning, where officials said that violations are common, and what he saw confirmed what Schwartz said.
The district is considering the use of better camera technology, he revealed.
“We had a close call earlier this semester when a car nearly hit a student after she got off a bus at Mesa Ridge High School,” Schwartz said. “We were able to record the license plate in that case.”
During KRDO 13’s live coverage on Good Morning Colorado, the bus driver who alerted The Road Warrior to the situation sent the following text:
“Two weeks ago, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office had a sting (at the bus stop location). They issued 8 citations, and 5 will require court appearances.”
Penalties for violators may include fines, community service, and points being taken from drivers’ licenses.