Hays CISD is asking parents to observe “bus only” zones at campuses. As a reminder the rules are sometimes enforced by sheriff’s deputies, such as this one recently at Dahlstrom Middle School. (Photo by Jim Cullen)
by JIM CULLEN
Charles “Chick” Laws, Hays CISD’s assistant transportation director, hung out at Dahlstrom Middle School to reward drivers who dropped off their children in designated zones, with free drink coupons from Sonic. He wasn’t able to give many of them away.
In a scene that Laws said is repeated daily at all of the district’s campuses, cars streamed into an area marked “For Buses Only” from 7-9 a.m.
Hays CISD Transportation Dept. is putting out a message to drivers across the district, asking that parents and others more fully comply with bus-loading zone warning signage. The message calls adults’ attention to a recent upsurge “in near misses, injuries, and deaths in school bus load zones” across the country. It also notes that those dropping off and picking up students “often exceed the posted speed limit or violate district policy by driving in the designated campus school bus load zone.”
The department’s message says “parents, guardians, and care-givers play the most influential role in their child’s behavior. The more knowledgeable parents are about school zones, bus load zones, and pedestrian safety, the better role model they can be for their children.”
Parents are reminded that children have difficulty judging speed and distance of oncoming traffic. They do not naturally use their peripheral vision, are often impatient, restless, easily distracted, and focused on themselves, and believe grown-ups will look out for them.
Laws sums up the Transportation Department’s key messages, including the need for drivers to avoid school bus load zones during posted times (7-9 a.m.) and never pass a bus in the school bus load zone (morning or afternoon).
Finally, he cautions, drivers should expect non-bus riders (walkers) to enter cars’ path of travel, taking shortcuts between cars and buses to enter or leave school.
