School has only been in session for two weeks and the American Automobile Association (AAA) is reminding Texans the importance of stopping for a school bus when students are getting on and off.
“As we move into the fall, we’ve got those kids that are walking and biking home and getting off the school buses at a time when a lot of drivers are getting off of work,” AAA Texas Spokesperson Doug Shupe said. “The combination of the drivers trying to get home from work, the kids trying to get home from school, could potentially create a dangerous situation.”
This announcement comes after disturbing video was released of two separate incidents where Austin students were hit by vehicles getting off a school bus. Thankfully, the students were not seriously injured.
“Kids could dart out between parked cars and you need to be prepared to stop for those kids,” Shupe said. “You need to remember that you have to stop for school buses when that stop sign is extended.”
According to AAA Texas, one-third of child pedestrian fatalities in 2014 happened between 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., the time when most schools let out and kids are heading home. In that same year, AAA said two of the 26 child pedestrian fatalities in Texas died during that same time.
“And what we are really trying to do is remind drivers, remind parents, about ways that we can keep these kids safe,” Shupe said. “You know drivers need to remember to slow down, especially in school zones as well as in areas where children could be present.”
According to Texas law, vehicles must stop for flashing lights on a school bus. Violators can receive up to $1,000 dollars in fines.
