LANCASTER, OH (WCMH) — Jerry McDowel says it’s a common problem this time of year; drivers who ignore or don’t understand the laws when it comes to stopping or yielding to a stopped school bus.
“Suddenly I hear this loud squealing of tires and it was a person coming toward the bus. Didn’t see the lights, and they slammed the brakes,” McDowel remembers.
The problem became obvious during a two week period in 2013, when bus drivers in the Lancaster district reported 88 violations, with as many as eight in one day.
“It was really disturbing actually, that people aren’t paying attention to the children of their community and their safety,” says bus driver Patty Morris.
The violations led to Redflex equipping several buses in the district with cameras. After that, drivers started to see a change.
The camera automatically captures an image of the care, its license plate and the driver. That information is turned over to law enforcement, who will issue a citation of up to $250.
For the bus drivers, catching the law breakers is priceless. “They will stop now. They’re paying more attention to us. It’s not just a money thing. They’re actually saving these kid’s lives when they’re crossing a busy intersection,” said bus driver Robert Specht.