Jackson Councilman highlights traffic laws after residents ignore school bus stops
JACKSON, Tenn. — School bus safety has become a major issue throughout Tennessee. One community member is making a difference in his efforts to make drivers more aware of safety on the roadway.
Some may pay the price in fines as more and more drivers are reportedly running stop signs during bus stops.
Along north highland here in the Hub City they’re having problems with vehicles passing school buses in the morning time. We visited a resident in the area who says he has law enforcement set up every morning to make sure drivers are following the rules of the road.
“I kept hearing this loud horn honking early in the morning around 6:30am, and I thought ‘Why in the world is that happening every day?’ I noticed several kept honking their horns for a long period of time. I looked out the window and it was a stopped school bus, and cars were passing it. The next day I thought well I’m just going to come out here and watch. Then, I thought ‘Well I’m just going to come out here and not only watch, but video tape it as well.’ So, I put it on Facebook and the response was unbelievable that people were ignoring a stopped school bus,” said Frank McMeen, city councilman and president of the Community Foundation of West Tennessee.
McMeen says this he’s been following this story for years, and it just so happens to take place in front of his home.
“Can you imagine if you’re the person that hits a child getting on a school bus. The anger that our community would show towards that person. Here we have the most precious cargo in our city, and there are laws that protect those children getting on a school bus. If you see a stopped school bus with a sign out there is no question–unless there’s a median–you stop!” said McMeen.
He says law enforcement are on the spot every morning to make sure individuals are follow the rules of the road way. He says he’s went viral on Facebook several times amassing over 4 million views sharing his videos right outside his home about school safety hazards that are happening here in the hub city.
“When I walk out of the door around 6:30am or 6:35am there’s a police officer across the street, and I usually wave and it’s the same way with the bus driver. The bus driver stops, kids get on, and then the bus driver honks her horn and waves. She also does it with the police officer that’s over there,” said McMeen.
According to Tennessee Code, the driver must stop their vehicle before reaching the bus and should not proceed until the bus resumes motion, or visual signals by the bus driver to proceed.
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