The Salina Police Department will be stepping up its enforcement of vehicles overtaking or passing school buses loading and unloading children. A recent survey showed the following:

Of the 25 bus drivers completing the survey, 13 reported vehicles failing to stop. One bus was illegally passed 6 times.
Of the 20 violations, 6 were morning routes, 11 at mid-day, and 3 in the afternoon.

The Standard Traffic Ordinance for Kansas Cities states that vehicles are required to stop before reaching the school bus when flashing red lights are in operation. Vehicles may proceed only when the flashing red lights and the stop signal arm are no longer actuated.

A common misconception with motorists is that drivers in the oncoming lane are not required to stop if there is a turn lane dividing the roadway, as on Ohio Street or Ninth Street. The only time it is permissible to pass a school bus with the stop sign deployed is when the vehicle is in a separate roadway. The roadway must be divided by a median or barrier.

Please do your part to protect our children. Passing a loading/unloading school bus is extremely dangerous. Please, stop and watch for children when you observe a flashing school bus.

The citation is $100 and court cost are $55.