By: Molly Hicken, County Attorney

 Photo provided

This winter, the Sheriff and I received an email from the school district on behalf of bus drivers in Cook County. On four occasions in one week this November, school buses had been illegally passed when the “stop arm” was extended. This was noted as part of a troubling and dangerous pattern that has developed since the beginning of this school year, in which bus drivers are reporting illegally passing vehicles once a week on average. The County Attorney’s Office has charged seven school bus stop arm violation cases since September 2023, which is an increase over historical (not every call to law enforcement for a traffic violation gets referred to the County Attorney’s Office for charging). Both reported violations and charged violations like this have increased. Kids are at great risk of harm when drivers ignore the law around stopping for school buses. It is clearly time for some education around this topic.

State law requires all vehicles to stop at least 20 feet from a school bus that is displaying red flashing lights and an extended stop-arm. On any road but a divided highway, this is a requirement for vehicles approaching the bus from either direction. Lights begin flashing as the bus slows. This is your opportunity to slow down, too, to ensure you have the ability to stop once the stop arm goes out and the doors open to release children. It is an especially good idea to slow down when the lights begin flashing (for everyone’s safety) when weather conditions make the roads slick this time of year.

School buses are equipped with two video cameras each that help to identify drivers who illegally pass a stopped bus. If you’re curious about what the school and this writer are so worked up about, just take a look at some of the “close call” videos the State Patrol has posted online in which children are nearly struck by vehicles passing the bus while they are crossing the street to get home or to board the bus. Three children died last school year as a result of being struck by illegally passing vehicles according to the National School Bus Loading and Unloading Survey. Such tragedy is easily avoidable by following the law.

Drivers who fail to stop for a school bus displaying an extended stop-signal arm and flashing red lights can face a $500 fine. At a minimum, this constitutes a misdemeanor criminal violation of the traffic laws. If the driver passes the bus on the right, or when a child passenger is outside the bus attempting to board or walk home, the violation is a gross misdemeanor. Three Cook County traffic offenders whose stop arm violation cases have resolved in the last year received probation after their convictions, along with conditions like traffic safety classes and fines, while other cases are still pending sentencing.

Every day, Cook County schools dispatch eight school buses to pick up and drop off students. They transport kids on regular routes throughout Cook County and to and from activities. ISD 166 Superintendent Chris Lindholm said that the dedicated team of bus drivers had had some very close calls this year, leaving them shaken. "Drivers should always be on high alert when around school buses and be prepared to stop when the 4-way lights are flashing,” he warned, “Never pass a school bus on the right side of the bus and always be alert to ensure the safety of our students."

Be a part of keeping kids safe! Avoid distractions while you drive and increase your awareness of school buses and the special laws applicable when you encounter one on the road. Parents of teenage drivers should also speak to their newly-licensed kids about stopping for school buses. Finally, Cook County Schools are currently seeking additional regular and substitute school bus drivers (paid training, paid holidays, $24.96 hourly wage, and other benefits). Visit cookcountyschools.org to learn more.

County Connections is a column on timely topics and service information from your Cook County government. Cook County – Supporting Community Through Quality Public Service.