4 MCPS HS Students Hit by Car at Bus Stop

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have cars lined up on one side of the road waiting for the bus. The bus stops opposite us and then turns left onto a side road. The bus has already left but kids are still getting into the cars. There is this one mom who pulls out and drives rashly when other kids are still getting in. What do you do? She hasn't violated the Stop sign rule but it is rather scary when she brushes past while kids are getting in.

Are the kids crossing the street themselves? Are they getting in the car on the traffic side? I would walk my kid across the street and get them in on the non-traffic side of the car, then go around and get in the car myself. You shouldn't be loading kids into the car on the traffic side, regardless of any situation.

We don't know how old the kids on the top PP's bus are. Upper-elementary kids, let alone middle-school and high-school kids, should certainly be able to cross the street by themselves.

And walking your own kid across the street doesn't solve the problem of the driver's unsafe behavior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Filming a driver violating school bus safety is far from intrusive.

Also, if you're in Rockville, you can report license plate number of the police online. The driver won't get a citation, but will get a letter in the mail. Not sure if that's true in the County.

I have done this and sent said video to the Bethesda bus depot -- twice. They are getting to know me over there. One time a bus driver was speeding and weaving in and out of traffic and then proceeded to cut cars off to take a left. Another time a driver was on a fit of road rage, tailgating the car in front of him and beeping. Both drivers were reprimanded.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have cars lined up on one side of the road waiting for the bus. The bus stops opposite us and then turns left onto a side road. The bus has already left but kids are still getting into the cars. There is this one mom who pulls out and drives rashly when other kids are still getting in. What do you do? She hasn't violated the Stop sign rule but it is rather scary when she brushes past while kids are getting in.

Are the kids crossing the street themselves? Are they getting in the car on the traffic side? I would walk my kid across the street and get them in on the non-traffic side of the car, then go around and get in the car myself. You shouldn't be loading kids into the car on the traffic side, regardless of any situation.

We don't know how old the kids on the top PP's bus are. Upper-elementary kids, let alone middle-school and high-school kids, should certainly be able to cross the street by themselves.

And walking your own kid across the street doesn't solve the problem of the driver's unsafe behavior.

Certainly not middle school or high school if parents are driving them home from the bus stop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have cars lined up on one side of the road waiting for the bus. The bus stops opposite us and then turns left onto a side road. The bus has already left but kids are still getting into the cars. There is this one mom who pulls out and drives rashly when other kids are still getting in. What do you do? She hasn't violated the Stop sign rule but it is rather scary when she brushes past while kids are getting in.

Are the kids crossing the street themselves? Are they getting in the car on the traffic side? I would walk my kid across the street and get them in on the non-traffic side of the car, then go around and get in the car myself. You shouldn't be loading kids into the car on the traffic side, regardless of any situation.

We don't know how old the kids on the top PP's bus are. Upper-elementary kids, let alone middle-school and high-school kids, should certainly be able to cross the street by themselves.

And walking your own kid across the street doesn't solve the problem of the driver's unsafe behavior.

Certainly not middle school or high school if parents are driving them home from the bus stop.

I drive my middle-schooler home from the bus stop. It's a magnet bus with a central bus stop that's 2 miles from our house with no sidewalks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Filming a driver violating school bus safety is far from intrusive.

Also, if you're in Rockville, you can report license plate number of the police online. The driver won't get a citation, but will get a letter in the mail. Not sure if that's true in the County.

I have done this and sent said video to the Bethesda bus depot -- twice. They are getting to know me over there. One time a bus driver was speeding and weaving in and out of traffic and then proceeded to cut cars off to take a left. Another time a driver was on a fit of road rage, tailgating the car in front of him and beeping. Both drivers were reprimanded.

How do you know they were reprimanded?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not totally related but there is someone who drives to our bus stop and then zooms off, even when the bus is still stopped.

Is there any way to request a bus camera for a specific bus?

Are they passing the bus while it has its "Stop lights" on? (Or have they parked in front of the bus, and then just driving "ahead" of it? Or are they behind the bus, and then going away from the bus?)

Yes!

The person’s kids had already gotten on the bus. But there were other kids still getting on the bus, so the red lights were still flashing. And she drove past it. Has done this several times.

I guess I could film it? But that seems somewhat intrusive.

Some people don't realize how dangerous passing a stopped school bus is. They seem to forget driver's ed that the stop sign on the side of the bus means to stop. Students could be walking across the street in either direction trying to get to the bus (morning) or off the bus (afternoon).

You might be able to call the non emergency number and see if they can send an officer out to sit there during the time this usually happens. I've found police to be weirdly responsive to this kind of thing.

Thank you. That’s a good suggestion. I’d be more willing to do that versus trying to get her on video.

A major fine in Maryland with the camera = $250. I am sure a police ticket will be equally as high but will come also with points on her driver's license. Once she gets the ticket, she probably won't forget to stop for a bus in the future.

Besides calling the non-emergency number for the police, I would also call MCPS about the issue. Maybe start with MCPS Transportation. They are refitting all buses with internal cameras by the beginning of next school year. Surely they should also be putting cameras on all buses to ticket people who pass stopped school buses.

This is FANTASTIC news!! I am on here all the time complaining about MCPS not doing enough to keep kids safe. I had not heard this, but thank you.

We've had several incidents on bus routes for our ES of kids acting up, physical aggression, etc. Internal cameras will definitely be a welcome addition.

You should report the incidences in writing to the school principal. If you consider the treatment to be bullying and/or harassment, then use the MCPS Bullying and Harassment form to report. Your child's bus may already have an internal camera but MCPS will only look at the video data if someone reports an incident. The video hard drive will usually be recorded over in about 30 days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hoping everyone is okay, but a good reminder for drivers to be careful.
Happened this morning at 7:00am on Georgia ave.

https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/police-fire/four-kennedy-high-school-students-transported-to-local-hospitals-after-being-struck-by-a-car-at-bus-stop/

Georgia Ave has weekly hit and runs of cars, cyclists and pedestrians. So sick of it. When is MD, DC, and VA going to mandate written and behind the wheel tests for converting any international license to a U.S. state one. Such different standards. Dangerous.

Not to mention half the people don't believe in insurance. Why pay each month if no accident, no make sense!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not totally related but there is someone who drives to our bus stop and then zooms off, even when the bus is still stopped.

Is there any way to request a bus camera for a specific bus?

Are they passing the bus while it has its "Stop lights" on? (Or have they parked in front of the bus, and then just driving "ahead" of it? Or are they behind the bus, and then going away from the bus?)

Yes!

The person’s kids had already gotten on the bus. But there were other kids still getting on the bus, so the red lights were still flashing. And she drove past it. Has done this several times.

I guess I could film it? But that seems somewhat intrusive.

Most people from other countries have no idea you are supposed to stop when the yellow school bus stop sign is out/blinking. And probably 1/3 of people who have driven in American since age 15 don't know or remember it either.

[Anonymous]

Still wondering how that poor kid is doing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Still wondering how that poor kid is doing.

Yes. There they were, ON THE SIDEWALK. How much public pressure will it take for the Maryland State Highway Administration to fix Georgia Avenue?

You can help by coming to the Planning Department's Walk Audit for Aspen Hill Vision Zero Study, on Saturday, November 3, 2018, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., starting at the Aspen Hill library at 4407 Aspen Hill Rd, Rockville, MD 20853.

http://montgomeryplanning.org/events/walk-audit-for-aspen-hill-vision-zero-study/

[Anonymous]

I drove this week to the credit union next to where the kids were hit. It was about 9:15am and lots of school buses were out and about and stopped on Georgia -- lights blinking, sign outward, etc. Many cars paused and then proceeded (I did not of course). Several police cars were waiting at the Aspen Hill intersection just ahead and and got *every one* of those a-holes who bypassed the school buses. Such a feeling of satisfaction seeing them stopped and fined!

[Anonymous]

I keep wondering why this was not Front-Page news for several days. If this had happened to BCC or Whitman kids I am betting it would be.

[Anonymous]

It was on the front page of Washington Post

[Anonymous]

Website at least

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I drove this week to the credit union next to where the kids were hit. It was about 9:15am and lots of school buses were out and about and stopped on Georgia -- lights blinking, sign outward, etc. Many cars paused and then proceeded (I did not of course). Several police cars were waiting at the Aspen Hill intersection just ahead and and got *every one* of those a-holes who bypassed the school buses. Such a feeling of satisfaction seeing them stopped and fined!

Glad to hear it. I live in the neighborhood, and there are so many traffic violations constantly. Hopefully the fact that the police were out there will help.