1. Yes, it's a whole new look! Have questions or need help? Please post your question in the New Forum Questions thread Click the X to the right to dismiss this notice
    Dismiss Notice
  2. Seeing tons of unread posts after the upgrade? See this thread for help. Click the X to the right to dismiss this notice
    Dismiss Notice

Jeep hits schoolbus in Broadlands and leaves scene.

Discussion in 'Broadlands Community Issues' started by sunnydog, Feb 15, 2013.

  1. sunnydog

    sunnydog New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 16, 2002
    Messages:
    456
    Likes Received:
    0
  2. Mr. Linux

    Mr. Linux Senior Member & Moderator Forum Staff

    Joined:
    Jul 26, 2001
    Messages:
    3,277
    Likes Received:
    69
    A few weeks ago, while picking up my son at his bus stop on Demott by the townhouses, a car which was stopped behind the bus while my son was exiting decided that he/she had waiting long enough and pulled around the bus, passed it and went on its way. The bus had its red flashers on, as well as the flashing stop sign on the driver's side. The bus driver laid on his horn for a good 5-6 secs but the car just kept going, without a care in the world. Needless to say, I was extremely ticked off (using nice words here) and couldn't believe what had just happened. When my wife got home a bit later, I told her what had occurred and she decided to file a complaint via the LCSO website. The very next day, a deputy was dispatched to monitor the stop and make sure drivers obeyed the law.

    It blows my mind how some people believe that their time is more important than the safety of our children, or anyone else's safety for that matter. I wish I had caught a glimpse of the car's license plate, but I was too concerned with helping my son off the bus and by the time I looked over, the car was too far away to read the plates. As far as I'm personally concerned, if you disobey a 'schoolbus-related' traffic law, you should lose the right to drive for 90 days on the spot.
     
  3. hometheaterguy

    hometheaterguy New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2008
    Messages:
    159
    Likes Received:
    4
    The city of Falls Church is currently fitting all their school buses with cameras, the primary reason being to identify and ticket the offenders. Though expensive, they're estimating that they'll recoup the majority of the cost with the fines issued. It'd be nice to see Loudoun do something similar. I've seen it happen more than a couple times myself...
     
  4. Madjake

    Madjake New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2008
    Messages:
    53
    Likes Received:
    2
    Agreed, it plays out everyday in front of Mill Run for the drop off. People making u-turns in the middle of the road, passing the line on the left.
     
  5. snoopy

    snoopy Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2004
    Messages:
    568
    Likes Received:
    0
    And I would guess, most of them are parents ...go figure, huh ?
     
  6. Villager

    Villager Ashburn Village Resident

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2006
    Messages:
    2,512
    Likes Received:
    19
    I was on my way to our elementary school last week and someone behind me tried to pass me on the left while I was driving down the road. I blocked her so she couldn't do it. The female driver was apparently taking a boy to the same school I was going to. I tried to catch her when she walked in the building but our principal stopped me from jaywalking across the kiss-and-go loop so I wasn't able to yell at her. But if I see her again...
     
  7. Mom8386

    Mom8386 Member

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2007
    Messages:
    277
    Likes Received:
    5
    My friend's sister was hit and killed by a delivery truck 30 years ago while exiting a bus. The driver didn't slow down til he actually hit her. She was crossing a pretty busy road but the bus of course had his red flashing lights on and it was the normal bus stop. So, this is nothing new, but it has always made me very aware.
     
  8. Chsalas

    Chsalas Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2003
    Messages:
    1,619
    Likes Received:
    37
  9. Capricorn1964

    Capricorn1964 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2010
    Messages:
    1,789
    Likes Received:
    53
    I noticed the woman in the video even smirked twice....Sounds like she didn't really think she did anything wrong. What an idiot and she should lose her license permanently for that. What a moron she is.
     
  10. Sasquatch519

    Sasquatch519 Member

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2008
    Messages:
    448
    Likes Received:
    6
    Part of me wants to play devil's advocate here. While I can't really justify actually passing a school bus, I did find myself tempted a few weeks ago in Herndon. I was stopped behind a bus letting kids off for 8 painful minutes that I counted as they ticked off on my clock. It seemed to be one of those situations where each parent went on to the bus to retrieve their kids one at a time. (No one ever met me at a bus stop when I was a kid - I just walked home.) If buses are going to be stopped for a "long" time, whatever "long" means, I'd rather they did it in a parking lot. Safer for the kids and better for traffic.

    As for the cameras, I'd guess that revenue is a bigger consideration than safety. It seems that everyone except the people raking in the cash agree that red-light and speed cameras are more about revenue than safety, so I can't see how this would be different. Governments are hurting for cash just like the rest of us now and they are also looking at some big Medicaid cost increases coming soon from health reform law, so they need to get some more cash soon. And since they can't just print money like the federal gov't, they have to get it from us. Something like bus cameras goes over much better than a tax increase during the next election cycle.
     
  11. Mr. Linux

    Mr. Linux Senior Member & Moderator Forum Staff

    Joined:
    Jul 26, 2001
    Messages:
    3,277
    Likes Received:
    69
    Maybe they were special needs children and/or children that needed special assistance?
     
  12. Sasquatch519

    Sasquatch519 Member

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2008
    Messages:
    448
    Likes Received:
    6
    I suppose such a thing is possible, but I watched many parents walk onto the bus and saw several of the kids walking away with them later. No one appeared to have any siginificant special needs.

    It seemed like a block party atmosphere for the parents - a large crowd gathering waiting for the bus and everyone stopping to chat with their neighbors while the bus blocked traffic. Usually when I get caught by this bus, it's a 4-5 minute delay.

    Obviously we can't have kids being hit by cars, but traffic needs to be considered as well. The line of cars behind the bus was longer than I could see in my mirrors, but I'd guess at least 30 cars. I have since modified my commute to a slightly longer route to avoid this bus stop.
     
  13. Che11ez

    Che11ez Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2012
    Messages:
    273
    Likes Received:
    29
    A child does NOT have to have a physical impairment for them to ride the handicap bus. My son rode one last year, and holds an IEP for developmental delay.
     
  14. KTdid

    KTdid Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2006
    Messages:
    3,429
    Likes Received:
    146
    Even I have difficulty getting up those bus steps - now imagine a bunch of tiny people trying to get on or off the bus. It takes a little time, especially when they're carrying those huge book bags!
     
  15. Mr. Linux

    Mr. Linux Senior Member & Moderator Forum Staff

    Joined:
    Jul 26, 2001
    Messages:
    3,277
    Likes Received:
    69
    My son has special needs and I know that some days it can take him an extra minute or two to get off the bus. And you're right about those steps! They've been a challenge for him until last week! Another small win for him and for us :)
     
  16. Capricorn1964

    Capricorn1964 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2010
    Messages:
    1,789
    Likes Received:
    53
    Having a red light camera is preferable than none because there aeso many idiots running red lights nowadays all just to save a min or two...Back in 1993' I was T-Boned by a idiotic 20 yr old guy with a BRAND NEW Ford Mustang after running through the middle of his red light cycle and I was in the middle of the intersection with a Green Light. The moron had dropped his car insurance ONE month before totalling his car against my car. Needlessly to say, He lost his car to the bank and my insurance went after him for $$$$ for my car and medical bills (I also sued him separately). Having a red light can be useful in accidents where someone runs the red light. Its also to discourage red light runners who may (or may not) end up hitting someone else as there are too many who ignore the red light and risk the lives of another person. To me, red light cameras arent just to raise revenues solely...but its also to catch people WILLFULLY running red lights, IMHO.

     
  17. jamesmkelly

    jamesmkelly Member

    Joined:
    Dec 6, 2005
    Messages:
    187
    Likes Received:
    7
    Passing a school bus qualifies as reckless driving and is a criminal offense. A regular citizen can actually press charges against the driver.

    Call the LCSO and ask for Sargent Nugent. He will be glad to walk you through the process. I would have no issue pressing charges for endangering children. (A reckless conviction can have a 6 month suspension, $2500 fine, and 10 days in jail)

    ยง 46.2-859 Reckless Driving; Passing a Stopped School Bus

    A person is guilty of reckless driving who fails to stop, when approaching from any direction, any school bus which is stopped on any highway, private road or school driveway for the purpose of taking on or discharging children, the elderly, or mentally or physically handicapped persons, and to remain stopped until all the persons are clear of the highway, private road or school driveway and the bus is put in motion.
     
  18. TeamDonzi

    TeamDonzi ShowMeTheMoney!

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2005
    Messages:
    741
    Likes Received:
    5
    I dunno Sasquatch, I got one of those 'flash' tickets in MD at 2am, all alone on the highway, and I won't forget it. Every time I see that work zone, whether they are working or not, I'd rather not get a ticket.
     

Share This Page