As schools open, NH motorists are reminded of safety issues
By Dale Vincent, The New Hampshire Union Leader, Manchester | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
Only three districts are already open:
But this week is the big back-to-school week, with 140 districts opening on a staggered schedule.
Opening Monday are 29 districts, including
A number of the schools opening this week give kids a four-day weekend, with no class this Friday or
Bringing up the rear are
Police in
After a carefree summer of cruising through school crosswalks, it can be annoying to have to stop when a crossing guard walks into the road and holds up a stop sign.
It may help to remember why they are there. They are protecting the children headed to and from school; children who might otherwise just dart out into the street in an effort to "make it" across the street before the cars reach them; children who have no idea how long it takes a car to stop, even with amazingly fast driver reaction time.
If that's not sufficient incentive for stopping, a
Motorists are supposed to stop at least 25 feet before reaching the crossing guard and not proceed until the guard indicates it is possible to do so safely.
Violations reported to the police department are investigated and the motorist may be subject to a summons with a
Then there are the school buses that seem to stop at every driveway on the block when you are running late.
Vincent said the only exceptions are when traveling in the opposite direction on a divided highway or when a bus is stopped in a loading zone that is part of or adjacent to a controlled access highway where pedestrians aren't permitted to cross the roadway.
Now, about the yellow flashing lights on the bus: They are a warning activated at least 100 feet in advance of a planned stop to warn motorists traveling in either direction that a stop is ahead. Vincent also urged motorists to watch out for students who may be trying to cross the street before the red lights begin flashing.
Vincent warned motorists who figure they can zip right past a stopped bus when a police car is not present that testimony under oath by a school bus driver or other witness claiming that a vehicle failed to stop, or remain stopped, is sufficient unless rebutted or contradicted and upheld by the court.
The fines are not less than
But the financial penalty doesn't stop there. A conviction for passing a stopped bus puts six points on your record, the equivalent of a DWI conviction. Depending on your age, six points can result in a license suspension for up to three months. Since most auto insurance rates are based upon driving records, those with convictions and accidents pay considerably more. It takes three consecutive years without a conviction or accident to restore your safe driver insurance rate.
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