They are entrusted with the lives of our children each day. The work of the school bus driver requires an incredible amount of skill and focus. For that reason, driving distracted is never an option for bus drivers.
"School Bus drivers have a huge responsibility," Mississippi Highway Patrol Spokesman Lieutenant Johnny Poulos said. The children that they are transporting every day, that is our future."
Poulos says each district has it's the right to enforce its own set of rules. The schools are expected to have rules and regulations in place to ensure that safety.
"There's nothing more valuable than that, Governor Phil Bryant said. "There's nothing that means more to us than seeing that child get off of the bus and come home."
Believe it or not, it's an issue that has popped up at schools across the United States. In Tampa Florida, a woman was caught on tape driving a school bus full of children, texting the entire time. One of the students recorded the driver and it infuriated dozens of parents.
According to the Mississippi Department of Education, part of Nathan's law requires that no school bus driver is ever allowed to operate a school bus while using a cell phone.
Lori key, the woman who played an instrumental role of implementing that law, fully backs that rule. Her five-year-old son Nathan Key was killed when a driver tried to pass his school bus as he got off.
"My drive is not wanting to sit next to another parent, another family and having to explain to them that I truly understand what they're going through," Lori said.
The Governor joined Key at a special event in Laurel that introduced a new monitoring system for school buses there. Governor Bryant praised Lori and her family for the work they have done to bring about much needed changes.
"What Laurie and Andy began because of the loss of Nathan is helping change the attitude nationwide.” Governor Bryant said. “Our children so many millions of them now are being protected on these buses."
As of now there have been no documented incidents of school bus drivers texting behind the wheel here in Mississippi. On the other hand, The State Highway Patrol has responded to several incidents where it's the motorist who is driving distracted.
"We see it all the time. The bus is stopped loading or unloading children. The driver is looking at their phone distracted in some form or fashion,” Lieutenant Poulos explained. ”They often run into the rear of the bus or if they're coming from the opposite direction, there's a possibility they could actually strike the child that's crossing the road."
According to distracted.gov a distracted driver take their eyes off the road for at least five seconds. If you're driving a 55 miles an hour that's enough time to cover the length of a football field. That statistic applies to any driver. Its just one more reason people like Lori Key are fighting to make sure Mississipians are aware of the dangers of driving distracted.
"There are a lot of other distractions as well as far as people driving in their personal vehicles,” Key said. “I would ask that people try to stay more aware of their surroundings.
While there may not be a formal law in place, authorities say that doesn't give drivers the right to be reckless on the road. Bus drivers have a big responsibility, but in the end that responsibility applies to anyone behind the wheel of a vehicle.
We do not have texting and driving nor distracted driving laws in Mississippi, that doesn't mean that drivers cannot still be responsible when they get behind the wheel of a car we want everyone to make it to their destination safely. That's our main mission," Lieutenant Poulos said.
If you or your child witnesses a bus driver driving distracted don't be afraid to speak up.
"Dial 911 try to get a description of the bus, bus number comment the school district just report that to where we can get with the bus driver in the school district to bring it to their attention," Lieutenant Poulos said.
"School Bus drivers have a huge responsibility," Mississippi Highway Patrol Spokesman Lieutenant Johnny Poulos said. The children that they are transporting every day, that is our future."
Poulos says each district has it's the right to enforce its own set of rules. The schools are expected to have rules and regulations in place to ensure that safety.
"There's nothing more valuable than that, Governor Phil Bryant said. "There's nothing that means more to us than seeing that child get off of the bus and come home."
Believe it or not, it's an issue that has popped up at schools across the United States. In Tampa Florida, a woman was caught on tape driving a school bus full of children, texting the entire time. One of the students recorded the driver and it infuriated dozens of parents.
According to the Mississippi Department of Education, part of Nathan's law requires that no school bus driver is ever allowed to operate a school bus while using a cell phone.
Lori key, the woman who played an instrumental role of implementing that law, fully backs that rule. Her five-year-old son Nathan Key was killed when a driver tried to pass his school bus as he got off.
"My drive is not wanting to sit next to another parent, another family and having to explain to them that I truly understand what they're going through," Lori said.
The Governor joined Key at a special event in Laurel that introduced a new monitoring system for school buses there. Governor Bryant praised Lori and her family for the work they have done to bring about much needed changes.
"What Laurie and Andy began because of the loss of Nathan is helping change the attitude nationwide.” Governor Bryant said. “Our children so many millions of them now are being protected on these buses."
As of now there have been no documented incidents of school bus drivers texting behind the wheel here in Mississippi. On the other hand, The State Highway Patrol has responded to several incidents where it's the motorist who is driving distracted.
"We see it all the time. The bus is stopped loading or unloading children. The driver is looking at their phone distracted in some form or fashion,” Lieutenant Poulos explained. ”They often run into the rear of the bus or if they're coming from the opposite direction, there's a possibility they could actually strike the child that's crossing the road."
According to distracted.gov a distracted driver take their eyes off the road for at least five seconds. If you're driving a 55 miles an hour that's enough time to cover the length of a football field. That statistic applies to any driver. Its just one more reason people like Lori Key are fighting to make sure Mississipians are aware of the dangers of driving distracted.
"There are a lot of other distractions as well as far as people driving in their personal vehicles,” Key said. “I would ask that people try to stay more aware of their surroundings.
While there may not be a formal law in place, authorities say that doesn't give drivers the right to be reckless on the road. Bus drivers have a big responsibility, but in the end that responsibility applies to anyone behind the wheel of a vehicle.
We do not have texting and driving nor distracted driving laws in Mississippi, that doesn't mean that drivers cannot still be responsible when they get behind the wheel of a car we want everyone to make it to their destination safely. That's our main mission," Lieutenant Poulos said.
If you or your child witnesses a bus driver driving distracted don't be afraid to speak up.
"Dial 911 try to get a description of the bus, bus number comment the school district just report that to where we can get with the bus driver in the school district to bring it to their attention," Lieutenant Poulos said.
No comments:
Post a Comment