Extended Stop Arms May Cut Down On Illegal Passing Of School Buses

ExtendedStopArm

The issue of illegal passing has received increased attention in the past few years as schools and law enforcement are partnering up around the country to crack down on offenders. However, national surveys show stop arm cameras and increased enforcement are doing little to stop drivers from recklessly passing loading and unloading school buses.

Thankfully, a recent pilot program in three West Virginia counties shows a new school bus accessory curbs illegal passing of stopped school buses.

The counties of Cabell, Greenbrier, and Kanawha recently completed a pilot program using extended school bus stop arms that include two separate stop signs. Extended stop arms feature the traditional stop sign placed on the side of the school bus as well as another that sticks six feet out from the bus.

By the end of the program, Cabell County reported a 35% decrease in stop-arm violations. Greenbrier County reported a 60 percent decrease, and Kanawha reported a 50 percent decrease.

While the program shows promise, Mike Pickens, executive director of the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) Office of School Transportation, said he still believes education and awareness of illegal passing laws are the key to keeping children safe while loading and unloading school buses.

“While we are encouraged by the reduction in passing violations, we also know there is education to be done among our drivers,” he said. “Although we saw improvement, Kanawha County reported the stop signs had been hit by drivers six times since the pilot began in August.”

To bolster their education efforts, the West Virginia Department of Education is partnering with West Virginia Division of Highways and the West Virginia State Police to spread awareness of these laws.

Throughout the pilot program, several drivers did note minor mechanical issues related to the extended stop arms such as insufficiently sized bolts and lack of reflective tape. The vendor of the extended stop arm worked closely with WVDE to quickly address these issues.