Comments on: Stopping for school buses, or: yet another needless post

By: Heather B

Heather B — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 17:32:13 +0000

Lately it seems like most of the danger to small children is the buses themselves.

By: Gerard

Gerard — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:56:43 +0000

A while back I was watching video lectures of “Why you should never talk to the police.” I think I got the link from here(?). One of the things that was pointed out is that there are so many laws that’s it essentially impossible for everyone to know what they are.

Given the choice between memorizing the CT code and stopping in an ambiguous situation — after, all it’s for the children — may of us are going to stop. (Sorry.)

In my town the bus routes are set to never require the elementary kids to cross in front of the bus — the bus goes up and down both sides of the street. So common sense would indicate no need to stop if the bus is going the other way that you are. Of course, that would be a statute violation. And surely you know of many other instances where common sense and legal are different, right?

I didn’t actually know about the 10 foot thing and have probably violated that from time to time. Good to know.

By: Gideon

Gideon — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 14:23:02 +0000

Okay, so you’re saying that an avenue, with a 2-3 foot grassy median separating the two directions of traffic, with no crosswalks does not constitute “separate roadways”.

I don’t agree with that, but I can see how someone could arrive at that conclusion. There’s no definition of “separate roadway” in the statute. Maybe I’ll look up some caselaw.

By: Jon Kantrowitz

Jon Kantrowitz — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 14:14:12 +0000

I think the confusion here is “separate roadways” – I don’t think a divider is enough to constitute seperate roadways – only a truly divided highway would have those.

By: Gideon

Gideon — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 14:06:21 +0000

It is my understanding of a few towns, but obviously I’m pretty sure that different towns have different rules.

However, if that were the case – that any time a school bus stops there is a risk that children will come running from all directions – then why is there a statute that permits drivers on the opposite side of the road to keep driving? Perhaps the problem isn’t the drivers of the cars, but the policies of the schools.

By: Jon Kantrowitz

Jon Kantrowitz — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 14:01:19 +0000

Is your understanding limited to one town – or are you sure that applies everywhere in CT?

By: Gideon

Gideon — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 13:52:23 +0000

Actually, it is my understanding that students are not permitted to cross the street. The bus will come to their side of the street. So, yes, there was no danger that anyone would be crossing the street.

Also, the statute does not require one to stop. That’s pretty clear.

So, no, I am not completely wrong. One may say it is common sense to stop, but that’s not what I’m talking about.

By: Jon Kantrowitz

Jon Kantrowitz — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 13:46:12 +0000

You are completely wrong on this one. There is no gurantee that just because theer is a divider students will not be asked to cross the street. Moreover, even in the morning a student may be late for the bus and running to cross the street. The people who stopped – for what – a minute? had more sense than you – are you really in such a hurry to get to wotk?