A matter of a few feet can potentially mean the difference between life and death at a school bus stop.
When a child crosses too close to the front of a school bus, chances increase that a driver might not see the youngster and potentially drive forward, injuring the child or worse.
About 18 months ago, a child died from being hit by a bus in the north-central Minnesota district of Rep. Larry Howes (R-Walker).
Sponsored by Howes,
HF392 would require all school buses used in the state that are manufactured after Jan. 1, 2012, to be equipped with a crossing control arm on the front right bumper that automatically expands out whenever the bus is stopped and the flashing red lights are in use.
Approved Feb. 21 by the House Transportation Policy and Finance Committee, the bill awaits action by the House Education Finance Committee. It has no Senate companion.
“We feel this is a proactive decision by our group to help alleviate transportation tragedies,” said Tom Keliher, a lobbyist representing the Minnesota School Bus Operators Association. “If an elementary school student is too close, the driver cannot see them over the hood.”
Keliher said it costs about $300-$350 for a new bus to have the approximately 8-foot arm. “A new school bus is about $80,000 to $95,000, so $300 to put a crossing arm on the front is a very miniscule price,” he said, adding costs to retrofit all current buses could get “very expensive.”
Howes said many buses in the Twin Cities metropolitan area already have such a crossing arm, partially because districts require them in bus operator contracts, but it is rare in northern Minnesota. “That’s why I want to do it statewide,” he said.
Rep. Mark Buesgens (R-Jordan) expressed concern about forcing kids off a crosswalk if the bus driver pulls up too close to a busy cross-street and the arm extends out too far.
“I assume our bus drivers are very well-trained and they know where to stop,” Howes said.
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