School buses

[dave1959]

Bus cams? Uh oh. Here's another one for I didn't know what to do - maybe someone one here would know the answer. I was on the street running parallel between Walmart and Wendys headed towards the, what is it a three way stop there? Anyway a school bus was at the stop that would have headed straight out to 235 and I was at the stop where I would have had to turn left to get to 235. The bus had the stop sign out and red lights flashing. I came to a complete stop looked left nothing coming, looked at the bus at the stop sign and watched her carry on a conversation with the bus driver and waited. and waited. and waited. No on entered the bus, no one left the bus. Finally I just made the left. Betting I was wrong? And while I'm on the subject of driving and betting I'm wrong, you know the light on St. Andrews Church Road that goes behind Michael's Lowes Staples, etc? I was headed to Target. I don't know east from west but I came up from Indian Bridge Road and would have eventually crossed 235 if I continued straight - if that helps in the direction I was going. The light on St. Andrews Road by the apartment complex had just turned red and I made a complete stop with the intent to turn (my turn signal was on). The truck behind me slammed on his brakes and laid on his horn - scared the crap outta me. Am I not supposed to come to a full stop there or something? That's the second time that's happened to me there.

Yes you were right....Right turn on red AFTER stop.., most people around here don't know that, they just blow though and don't even pause.

 

[dave1959]

Saw a maroon VW today stop on Chancellors after making right off Peggs road light across from a school bus with red lights activated heading toward Great Mills rd. I was sitting at the light thinking what is she doing. I actually got to speak to her at another light on Chancellors and told her she was not supposed to stop. She said she was not sure and was being cautious because of bus cams. Should we get book tested every 7 years or so? I probably don't remember everything either but the important stuff you better remember or at least take time to look it up.

Yes she was suppose to stop.. It was not a divided road..no physical barrier, you have to stop.

 

[BernieP]

Yes you were right....Right turn on red AFTER stop.., most people around here don't know that, they just blow though and don't even pause.

but if they slow up it will be harder to merge, they tapped the brakes, good to go, eh?

 

[bilbur]

I was always under the impression that if they deploy their stop sign and you are on the same side of the road if divided or on either side if not divided you are supposed to stop. I am a better safe than sorry guy when it comes to school buses so when I encounter a school bus with these scenarios I stop because the fine and points are huge.

 

[BernieP]

I was always under the impression that if they deploy their stop sign and you are on the same side of the road if divided or on either side if not divided you are supposed to stop. I am a better safe than sorry guy when it comes to school buses so when I encounter a school bus with these scenarios I stop because the fine and points are huge.

If I recall if the roadway is divided, the traffic in the opposing lanes does not have to stop (rationale being nobody should be running across a divided highway.
But those traveling in the same direction should stop.
Not sure why a bus would pull to the shoulder (other than to make sure some yahoo doesn't take the express lane through the kids boarding the bus.

 

[bilbur]

If I recall if the roadway is divided, the traffic in the opposing lanes does not have to stop (rationale being nobody should be running across a divided highway.
But those traveling in the same direction should stop.
Not sure why a bus would pull to the shoulder (other than to make sure some yahoo doesn't take the express lane through the kids boarding the bus.

This almost happened to my nephews a few years back. The bus stopped, turned on its lights, opened the door and just before the kids stated to walk out the bus driver and my sister noticed to car about to speed past on the shoulder. The bus driver stopped the kids just in time. My sister said he was going so fast they couldn't get a tag number an never heard if the description the bus driver gave the cops turned up anything. Unfortunately this was a year before they put cameras on the buses to record tag numbers. It is hard to say what was going through this idiots mind but he almost murdered 3 kids.

 

[glhs837]

This almost happened to my nephews a few years back. The bus stopped, turned on its lights, opened the door and just before the kids stated to walk out the bus driver and my sister noticed to car about to speed past on the shoulder. The bus driver stopped the kids just in time. My sister said he was going so fast they couldn't get a tag number an never heard if the description the bus driver gave the cops turned up anything. Unfortunately this was a year before they put cameras on the buses to record tag numbers. It is hard to say what was going through this idiots mind but he almost murdered 3 kids.

Camera wouldn't help in that case. They are one side only, and that's the outside away from the door.

 

[red_explorer]

Not necessarily

Camera wouldn't help in that case. They are one side only, and that's the outside away from the door.

The cameras can be installed to cover both sides of the bus. Depends on the county. In addition to the state minimums, every county has its own specifications for every detail of the buses, and then contractors can add to those requirements.

 

[glhs837]

The cameras can be installed to cover both sides of the bus. Depends on the county. In addition to the state minimums, every county has its own specifications for every detail of the buses, and then contractors can add to those requirements.

Every one I have seen here in St Marys has been on the "outside" of the bus. Does any state actually specify where external cameras can or should be mounted? Are such cameras actually specified by St Marys as to location? Keep in mind, these are not purchased from the bus company, these are add on systems installed and maintained by a vendor whos only product is automated enforcement systems. You don't go to BlueBird and say "I'll take a Blue Bird 3000 with the dual camera option". You contract with American Traffic Solutions (ATS) to outfit a certain amount of your fleet in return for a cut of the profit. Here in St Marys, from what the Sheriff put out, the vendor is actually getting 100% of the take until the system is paid off. What happens after that he hasn't said.


https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=ATS+school+bus+cameras+maryland

 

[red_explorer]

Yes they are after market, but depending on the county, may or may not be installed by the dealer. And yes, some counties do specify where the cameras are to be mounted. Like I said, every county has its own requirements, and contractors can add to those requirements. Different counties can also change what systems are installed as well. And there are many vendors, not just one.

 

[glhs837]

Yes they are after market, but depending on the county, may or may not be installed by the dealer. And yes, some counties do specify where the cameras are to be mounted. Like I said, every county has its own requirements, and contractors can add to those requirements. Different counties can also change what systems are installed as well. And there are many vendors, not just one.

For school bus arm cameras, not too many. ATS is the biggest player in that field, and they are aggressively marketing it. I wonder how effective ours has been.