HELENA, Mont. — School is back in session. Now, with more drivers on the roads during pickup and drop-off hours, officials are reminding folks to slow down when they see these bus lights flashing.
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“We are transporting kids; they are the most valuable thing in this world,” said Helena Public Schools bus driver Dakota Nugent.
Last school year, Montana Highway Patrol cited 109 school bus violations across the state. Now, just weeks into the new school year, Helena school officials say they’re already seeing the same dangerous behavior.
“So far, we've already seen our buses' reds get ran,” said first student safety manager Katee Horner. “That is where a vehicle passes the bus with the red lights deployed.”
Helena Public Schools operate over 50 daily bus routes. District buses are equipped with extra safety features like extended stop arms and a second stop sign on the back of the bus, but drivers are still putting students at risk.
“A lot of distracted driving around school buses,” said MHP trooper Cale Bruun. “A lot of people tell us they didn’t even see the school bus, which is very concerning.”
On a non-divided road, drivers in both directions are required to stop for a school bus with its red lights flashing. Bus drivers also recommend motorists keep a safe distance of about 50 to 100 feet behind a bus to allow for frequent stops.
MHP says drivers who illegally pass a stopped school bus can face steep penalties — up to $785 for a first offense and more than $4,000 for a third offense.
Bus driver Dakota Nugent says his number one priority is making sure students can safely get on and off the bus.
“I’m not gonna let the kids cross in front of my bus if I'm not 100% sure they will be safe doing so; I just won’t,” Nugent said.
East Helena student resource officer Jeff Stoltz, who patrols the area during drop-off and pickup, says a little extra patience from drivers can make a big difference.
“It's better to get there safe and late than in a rush and hitting somebody or hurting somebody,” Stoltz said.
MHP says the safest thing drivers can do is stay focused, slow down in school zones, and never try to pass a stopped school bus. Those few extra seconds of patience could save a child’s life.
