Here’s a good idea: flashing 20km/h signs on all school buses.
These would light up 20 seconds before the bus stops and stay on for 20 seconds after it moves off. They’ve been developed locally and would only cost around $1000 to install on the front and back of each school bus.
The only problem is there are 2500 school buses … but Rural Women New Zealand is campaigning for the new signs to be fitted to every one of them. It points out that a single life lost on the roads has a “social cost” of $3.5 million (according to the Ministry of Transport) compared with the $2.5 million cost of fitting the signs. Then there’s $10 million sitting in the coffers of the Road Safety Trust from the sale of personalised number plates – we couldn’t think of a better use for this money.
The Road Code says drivers must pass a stationary school bus at no more than 20 km/h in either direction. This seems to be one of the road rules least likely to be obeyed – perhaps because it’s often not obvious that a school bus has stopped, especially when you’re approaching one at open-road speeds.
We go to great trouble and expense to alert motorists to road works with flashing signs, speed-limit signs, cones, and special high-tech warning trucks. Yet we rely on a small yellow “school bus” sign to protect our kids – and it doesn’t even tell you what speed limit applies.
Our view
- The new flashing signs with the 20km/h speed limit on them should be approved by the New Zealand Transport Authority and added to school buses now.
More information
- Rural Women New Zealand’s school-bus sign campaign: www.facebook.com/speedpastschoolbuses
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How about we go some descent school buses that are designed as school buses as they do in the US. Here in NZ the contract goes to the lowest bidder who usually has a 30 year old + ex passenger buses that can be anything but safe...
I agree with John Little regarding the empty stationary buses. I pass them parked all day outside some schools with their signs displayed. I still pass the darned things at 20kph even knowing they are empty! Bring on the flashing lights.
Especially when red flashing lights would do just as good and have worked in the states for years, drivers should not be alowed to pass the bus when the lights are flashing, period.
WE do it at train crossings, why not for the kids?
When I have mentioned the limit exists many are surprised and did not know. Flashing lights are far more visible to people. $1000 is low compare with the cost of a bus. May be installing the flashing signs and reinforcing it with a awareness campaign.
As it stands, as a young person I don't ever recall slowing down to 20km/h when passing a bus. And the only times I have had to drive past a bus is where it wouldn't be reasonable for them to cross the road in front of the bus, and another place where it is 100km/h and it is further off the side of the road. Maybe I am lucky, and it isn't so critical to me.
However I am all for safety. If it takes speed signs that visually activate when the speed limit should be enforced, then go for it. If I was a cop, I would sympathise with anyone I pulled over for speeding past a stopped bus because they would look like an idiot. But if there was a lit up speed sign to show that it applied to them as would a red traffic light, then they would deserve a ticket.
IMO the problem here is lack of the present rule being taken seriously, by many concerned, not least bus drivers. Flashy signs would only have a temporary effect on their own.
School buses are often parked in the afternoon waiting for the school day to end and their "school bus" sign is displayed, so motorists have learned to ignore it. Perhaps then, a flashy sign that is only on when school children are embarking to disembarking would work, but it would require a serious campaign not least involving the police.
In at least some parts of the USA, school buses have a stop sign which the driver swings out before letting children off.
This device looks as though it might block the bus driver's view of kids on the footpath in front of the bus?
Anything that may save the life of a child has to be a good thing....its no use saying people should slow down, too late after the event.