Burke County schools remind drivers to stop for buses

WAYNESBORO, Ga (WJBF)- A new Georgia law increases penalties for drivers who pass stopped school buses. Wednesday, Burke County Public Schools reminded drivers to follow that law ahead of the first day of school on August 5.

School buses are the safest way to get students to and from school. But when other drivers don’t stop when they’re supposed to, it puts students’ lives in danger.

Between 2008 and 2021, 13 students trying to get on or off a bus were killed in Georgia.

From 2000 to 2022, there were 55 fatalities in the U.S. because of drivers trying to illegally pass a stopped school bus. That’s an average of 2.4 a year.

The death of a Georgia girl prompted her mother to ask lawmakers for harsher penalties for drivers breaking that law.

“And that law, ‘Addy’s Law,’ House Bill 409, came about because eight-year-old, Adalynn Pierce, was struck and killed by a motorist while she was loading the bus in Henry County earlier this year,” said Rev. Clary Dishmond, Burke County Public Schools Transportation Director.

In 2019, the Burke County School District began tracking violators illegally passing stopped school buses.

“There have been 964 citations that have been issued. This is not the full amount of how many actually ran a stop sign. That number exceeds 1200. But the ones that were actually cited because it was proven to be a sure violation, was 964,” explained Dishmond.

Now, thanks to “Addy’s Law,” drivers who do not stop for school buses will have to pay at least $1000 in fines. They will get points against their drivers license and could even spend up to 12 months in jail. With this new law, Georgia now ties with Utah for the toughest fines in the country for illegal passing of a stopped school bus.

The school district wants to remind drivers in the county that the school year is starting soon, and to follow the law.

“When you see a school bus stop, loading or unloading students, please be sure to stop,” Dishmond said.

So, what are the laws for stopping for a bus?

• On a two lane road, all traffic in both directions must stop.
• If the road has a center turning lane, or is a four lane road with no median, all traffic in both directions must stop.
• On four lane roads with no median or with a center turning lane, all traffic must stop for the bus.
• On four lane roads with an unpaved median or barrier, only traffic behind the bus has to stop. This is the ONLY case where all vehicles don’t need to stop for the bus.

If you see the bus lights begin flashing yellow, go ahead and prepare to stop. Do not try to pass.

In 2010, Jaquan White was hit by a driver when trying to get on his Burke County school bus.

“I remember waking up that morning and I was going to the bus stop waiting for the bus to pick me up. And after that, I just remember blacking out and waking up in the hospital that morning. My left leg… I had to learn to walk again on crutches and therapy and all that,” White explained.

Now White is a school bus driver for Burke County. He told NewsChannel 6 that it bothers him when people don’t stop for his bus.

“Angry when I see them. Because I have my lights on ready to pick up. I’m wondering if they’re going to slow down or not, which some of them do, some of them don’t.”

Earlier this month, the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services, released results of its survey regarding illegal passing of a stopped school bus.

It found that 94,581 school bus drivers reported that 62,482 drivers illegally passed their buses in just one day last school year. According to these results there are around 43.5 million violations a year across the U.S.

Both the Burke County School District and Burke County law enforcement believe the $1,000 fines thanks to “Addy’s Law” will make a big difference.

“Like most people, including myself, I just don’t have $1,000 to have to pay out. The points on your driver’s license or the your insurance rates. But that monetary fine is what’s going to really get everybody’s attention,” said Captain Brandon Reeves, Burke County Sheriff’s Office.

“Addy’s Law” not only increases penalties for violators, but it also updates requirements for Georgia schools.

Schools must plan bus routes that avoid students crossing roads where the speed limit is higher than 40 miles per hour. Dishmond said the Burke County school district provides two bus practice safety classes a year for its students.

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