The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Community

Discussion

October 19, 2009

Beware of school buses; National safety week is about kids

By Monica Pryts

MERCER COUNTY — Today kicks off National School Bus Safety Week and a local driver is raising awareness with help from area law enforcement authorities.

Shirley Myers, who drives a handicap van for students in the Reynolds School District for Anderson Coach & Travel, Sugar Grove Township, said the week focuses on state school bus laws because many motorists don’t know they exist or simply don’t follow them.

“Some people are not aware of the laws,” she said.

She hasn’t had any accidents while transporting students, but always has to be on the lookout for careless drivers when picking up and dropping off the children.

“The safety of the kids is the primary issue,” Mrs. Myers said.

The most common problem she’s seen is motorists passing stopped school buses while students are getting off or on.

While school bus routes are created so that children don’t have to cross in front of the bus, there are some areas where that can’t be avoided, she said.

It’s hard for motorists waiting behind the bus to see the child crossing the street, hence the law that says you can’t pass a stopped school bus.

Mrs. Myers contacted police in northern Mercer County to increase their patrols of bus stops on Wednesday, which has been designated as Operation Safe Stop.

Greenville-West Salem Township, Pymatuning Township and state police will be out and about that morning and afternoon, keeping an eye on certain bus stops in high-traffic areas, she said.

“They’ll be more visible in those areas,” she said, adding they were very willing and eager to help out.

Some of those spots include: Edgewood Drive between North Hermitage Road and Crestview Drive, and the area of 3745 N. Hermitage near Bassick Road, both Pymatuning Township; Orangeville Road and North Hermitage and Colt roads, both West Salem Township; and Mercer Road between Kidds Mill and Oniontown roads, Delaware Township.

According to information on the Pennsylvania Department of Motor Vehicles Web site, motorists must stop at least 10 feet away from school buses that have flashing red lights and the stop arm extended.

If physical barriers like grassy or concrete medians or guide rails separate oncoming traffic from a stopped bus, motorists in the opposing lanes may continue without stopping.

For more information, visit www.dmv.state.pa.us/fact_sheets/operation_safestop.shtml

Text Only
Community
  • Curry promoted to Allied editor

    Herald copy editor and page designer Kim Curry has returned to lead sister paper Allied News -- where she began her full-time journalism career -- and staff writer Monica Pryts is reporting from Allied’s Grove City office.

    February 9, 2012

  • Vets’ clubs coordinate coupon clipping for troops

    The next time you come across coupons for items you don’t buy or that have expired, hang on to them; military men and women overseas can use them for their own groceries.

    February 6, 2012

  • American chestnut topic of workshops

    If you have an interest in helping contribute to the eventual return of American chestnut to our forest ecosystems, one of these workshops might be your cure for spring fever:

    February 4, 2012

  • Farrell grad a classic(al) example

    A Farrell High School graduate will return to the Shenango Valley next weekend to perform with an elite classical guitar quartet from the State University of New York at Fredonia.

    February 2, 2012

  • Kids meet challenge with 3-D creations

    When Sharpsville Area Elementary School fifth-grade teachers asked students to create their own cities, they were expecting colorful drawings of buildings, parks and streets.

    February 1, 2012

  • Student revives animation technique for feature spot in band’s music video

    Westminster College sophomore Joe Ligo knew the process of incorporating stop-motion animation into the video wouldn’t be easy.

    January 29, 2012

  • New coffee house Hallowed grounds

    Churches look to infuse faith in believers in all kinds of ways.

    At First Presbyterian Church of Sharon, leaders are hoping a little bit of coffee might help.

    Last week the church hosted its first Cana’s Corner Coffeehouse. Twice a month the church will open its doors to musicians and set up a coffee and snack bar.

    January 24, 2012 1 Photo

  • Hallowed grounds

    Churches look to infuse faith in believers in all kinds of ways.
    At First Presbyterian Church of Sharon, leaders are hoping a little bit of coffee might help.

    January 15, 2012

  • Satellite office

    For nearly 30 years, Sharon native Edward “Ted” Cattron was bound by threat of treason charges to keep a big secret from his family and friends and only recently has been able to share the truth.

    December 11, 2011

  • Artist creates with fabric

    Evian Zukas-Oguz said her husband calls her “the nutty professor of fabric” because of the way she goes into her own world when crocheting, sewing, weaving on a loom or working on a knitting machine.

    December 8, 2011