Yield to school buses with flashing lights

As a school bus driver, I see all sorts of traffic violations every day while I am on the roads. The ones that bother me the most, however, are the people who pass a school bus when its lights are flashing. State law says that it is illegal to pass a school bus with its lights flashing (that means either red or yellow).

When you choose to pass a bus with its lights flashing, the bus driver can take down your license plate number and a description of your car. That information is turned over to the police and a ticket for $200 (including court costs) can be issued.

At one of my stops this month, I collected 18 vehicle plates and descriptions and the police caught another 12. That is 30 people breaking the law in a 17-day period (and one week was spring break). When you choose to run the lights and stop arm on a school bus, you are telling the children that you don't care about their lives, and are willing to run them over to save 30 seconds of time.

I don't know about you, but I don't have an extra $200 sitting around that I can spend to save 30-60 seconds of time. Remember to stop for the flashing lights - the child's life you save just might be one of your own children.

Duane J. Arnold

Cedar Rapids