Ideas to improve bus stop safety

School bus safety has been top of mind for many valley residents since a tragic accident near Whitefish last month left a 6-year-old girl fighting for her life.

Jordana Hubble was exiting a school bus on U.S. 93 when she was hit by a vehicle that failed to stop, despite the bus having its warning lights and stop signs fully activated.

In the aftermath of the accident, we’ve heard a number of good ideas about how to improve bus stop safety.

More consistent and prominent public education about school bus traffic laws is one suggestion we’ve heard over and over again, and we join the chorus in agreement. Whether it’s through public service announcements, social media or otherwise, providing drivers with frequent and clear information about Montana’s traffic laws would go a long way in keeping this safety issue at the forefront. Let’s face it, the rules about passing a stopped bus on a four-lane highway can be confusing (Montana law requires that vehicles stop for school buses on undivided highways in both directions). Conveying these traffic laws in a clear and concise manner should be a priority for local law enforcement.

Then there’s the issue of enforcement. We’re glad to see the recent announcement that the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office and Kalispell Police Department would be conducting a joint effort targeting drivers not stopping for school buses. We encourage more of these partnerships across the county, alongside strict enforcement and substantial penalties.

One Inter Lake reader suggested installing dash cameras on buses to help catch negligent drivers. If that helps crack down on red-runners, we’re all for it.

Another great idea to improve bus stop safety has emerged in Bigfork, where the school district is planning to equip its buses with extra-long stop arms and two flashing stop signs. They tested the 6-foot stop arm last fall and found that it substantially cut down on red-runners when compared to the basic 2-foot stop arm with a single sign. Every school district should consider retrofitting their buses with long stop arms.

All of these are good ideas, but the best defense against another bus stop tragedy is defensive driving. Especially as we enter the depths of winter with fewer hours of daylight and snow-packed roads, drivers need to be extra vigilant. Learn the rules of the road, approach buses cautiously, and please, keep an eye out for little ones waiting at the bus stop.