Vehicles passing a school district transportation vehicle is a violation. (WNG File Photo)
SOUTHWICK – The Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District wants to remind the community about the dangers of cars passing by school district transportation vehicles.
After reading about concerns that school districts across the country have with cars passing school buses while lights are flashing, Steve Presnal, business manager for the school district, released information revealing that a member of the STGRSD reports to Mass Department of Transportation at least once a week that a vehicle passes a district transportation vehicle.
“It’s always been an issue and will probably continue to be an issue,” said Presnal.
As reported by Presnal, school district officials have recorded at least 26 violations of cars passing transportation vehicles since the start of the current school year. Another 12 violations have occurred in the parking lots on the school district campus.
“It’s clearly an unsafe practice that could really result in serious harm to a student,” said Presnal.
Presnal mentioned a major concern is that vehicles are required to be at least 100 ft. behind a school bus, and there’s a sign on the bumper indicating such.
“I think a lot of motorists don’t adhere to that,” said Presnal.
In order to help combat this issue, all drivers in the Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District are trained and follow specific protocols. Presnal noted one way is that bus drivers signal to the students when it’s safe to approach the bus or when to get off the bus and cross the street. In an effort to reduce the number of times students cross the road, buses try to drop off student on one side of the road and then return to the other side of the road to drop off other students, that way students get off the bus directly at their home or their destination and don’t have to cross the road.
“We’re just trying to eliminate some of the crossing situations,” said Presnal.
Whether it’s distracted driving, not paying attention, or people simply choosing to disobey the law, school district officials know they can’t prevent everyone that drives through Southwick from making these violations.
“It’s people from other communities, other states, and other regions that are traversing the roads here,” said Presnal.
Presnal did add that the school district will continue to make the public aware of this issue through various forms of outreach while also working with the Southwick Police Department.
To report a violation of a car passing a district transportation vehicle or for questions or comments, contact the school district at 413-569-5391.
