Bus driver sees stopping problem on Jackson Blvd.

~ Police say they take driving through a bus' stop sign seriously.

South Elementary fifth-grader Crystal Musgrave knows if she does something wrong on the bus she'll get in trouble. That's why she doesn't understand why people who break the law and drive past a stopped school bus letting off children don't get into trouble.

"I think that they should get in trouble for not following the rules of the bus," she said.

Crystal isn't the only one concerned. Bus driver Simon Ebenstein also says it's a problem and sees at least one violation a day.

It's a problem, however, that Jackson police have not heard much about. In October they issued no citations for bus stop sign violations. The Missouri State Highway Patrol did not have statistics readily available regarding motorists running through bus stop signs.

Crystal is one of 12 students who have bus stops on Jackson's busiest highway.

As buses stop, flashing yellow lights flash to indicate cars behind the bus should slow down. Then the lights turn red, signaling stop. A stop sign comes out under the driver's side window as the bus doors open. As another safety precaution, a bright yellow arm extends perpendicular to the front of the bus to try to keep children from running into the street.

On Monday afternoon, four cars ignored the flashing yellow lights, which Ebenstein leaves on for at least 25 seconds.

Ebenstein, a bus driver for five years at Jackson, said he knows when a car is going to ignore the stop sign. He's always looking in the mirrors and anticipating the move of every car behind him.

It's just like going through a red light, he said. "They had the yellow warning with plenty of time before it went red."

Ebenstein has yet one more safety net to keep his riders safe -- his arm. He'll often block students from leaving the bus if he thinks a car might not stop.

"It's a lack of respect for the children," Ebenstein said. "There's no good excuse for it."

He said the problem is about the same as it was last year and that it's not just on Jackson Boulevard.

In the mornings Ebenstein has a student who helps him collect license plate numbers of people who pass the bus.

"When I have a chance to get the license number, we turn them in," Ebenstein said. But sometimes the plates aren't visible, like the one on the half-ton truck that sped by his bus a week ago.

Crystal says instances like that truck make her fear someone might hit her or accidentally run into the bus as she's getting off on her stop.

Jackson Boulevard is a four-lane road. All traffic traveling in the same direction of the bus should stop behind the bus, according to state law. Officials say it's important to follow that law, even if the student does not have to cross the street. They fear a child may run out into the road or that car could bump into the bus while trying to pass. On a two-lane road, both lanes should stop.

Both Jackson police and the Missouri State Highway Patrol say they take the bus driver complaints seriously.

"We patrol the area looking for violations, but it's difficult unless you're following the bus through the entire route to see it actually occurring," said Lt. Chris Mouser of the Jackson Police Department.

Mouser also said the police mostly depend on the bus drivers for their violation reports but that drivers often are too busy to write down the license plate numbers.

In the past, highway patrol officers have ridden on the Jackson school buses with another officer following behind the bus. The two officers communicated through radio and issue citations.

"It was an operation that we feel was successful, and it seems to reduce the number of violations we've had reported," Sgt. Larry Plunkett said.

Plunkett suggests making eye contact with the bus driver before pulling forward.

A motorist who sees someone running through a school bus stop sign can report it. The police need the license plate number of the vehicle, the location and, if possible, the bus number. The process does take a long time because the police have to turn the case over to the city prosecutor after they've investigated it.

Plunkett said the owner of the vehicle is responsible for the actions of the vehicle even if he or she is not driving.

ameyer@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127