Some Michigan lawmakers want to make it illegal to pass a school bus with flashing yellow lights, and a transportation official from Berrien County has testified about the idea.
A bill passed in a state House committee Tuesday would require drivers to stop at all flashing school bus lights, and not just red lights. In support is Berrien Springs Public Schools Transportation Director John Legus. He testified last week about the legislation.
“Currently, slowing down for these amber lights is only a suggestion, and this is dangerous because our babies are standing at the bus stop where people are speeding up,” Legus said. “For a school bus driver, this is terrifying to watch. You see, the law for the motorists only refers to the red lights. The law currently in place for motorists was written for a time when school buses were equipped with only the red light system.”
Legus said he once saw a vehicle buzz by a school bus at 55 miles per hour and hit a child. Thankfully, the child survived, but police at the time determined the driver did nothing wrong because the bus lights were amber.
Currently, drivers can legally pass a bus with flashing amber lights, but the bill would require drivers to immediately stop when any bus lights are flashing.
