SOLON — Schools are open again and those big yellow buses are back on the road requiring extra attention and caution during the morning and evening commutes as a moment of impatience or inattention can have serious, even tragic, consequences.
In 2018 a group of Solon Community School District bus drivers sat down with the Solon Economist and spoke of close calls while venting their frustration at near-daily encounters with drivers passing their busses when the red lights and stop signs were activated; a violation of traffic laws, and danger to the children being picked up or dropped off.
“A lot of us do have problems with (high school) kids, parents and adults running our stop signs,” said Jim Hadenfeldt. “Mostly meeting us, they see the yellow lights flashing (signaling the bus will be stopping shortly), but that’s when they speed up. You’re coming to your stop, you stop, you put your stop sign out…they just keep going. That stop sign don’t mean nothing to them.” It’s not just the sign on a bus that drivers are ignoring either. “I’d say 85% of the people don’t even stop at a stop sign anymore. Not even at an intersection on a road. So, they don’t have no regard for a stop sign. It’s just…it’s ridiculous. They don’t realize that you might have 40-60 kids on that bus, and if somebody runs you from both directions and have an accident, you’re putting a lot of kids in danger.”
The law is clear, said Sgt. Alissa Schuerer with the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO).
“On a two or three-lane road, drivers from all directions are not allowed to pass a school bus when they see flashing red or amber warning lights. Drivers are required to stop when the bus stops and the stop arm is extended. Once the lights are turned off and the stop arm is retracted, drivers may proceed with caution.
On a four-lane highway, drivers approaching a bus from the rear are not allowed to pass a school bus when they see flashing red or amber warning lights. Same rules as approaching from the rear on a two and three-lane road. Although on a four-lane highway, drivers approaching the bus from the front are not required to stop when approaching a bus with red flashing lights, stopped, or have a stop arm extended.”
Despite the legal consequences, and the risks, Trooper Robert Conrad with the Iowa State Patrol (ISP) says it’s still a big problem. “People are in a big hurry, they don’t want to be slowed down, but the important thing to remember about a school bus is that anytime the yellow lights come on you are required to slow down. The red lights are always following that, and you are required to stop. If you go around that bus, bigger than any law violation, you take the risk of hurting or killing a child. Anytime those lights come on, it is an indicator they’re picking up a child or dropping off a child.”
Because of the dangers the law has become more stringent regarding bus violations, the Trooper said. The first offense for unlawfully passing a school bus is a simple misdemeanor under Iowa Code 321.372(5)(b)(1). The fine is at least $345, but no more than $930. The Iowa DOT will impose a 30 day suspension of driving privileges, with the opportunity to complete a driver improvement program instead of the suspension. The court may also order a maximum of 30 days in jail.
The second offense is a serious misdemeanor. The fine is $430, but no more than $2,560. Iowa DOT will impose a 90 day suspension of driving privileges. The court may also order a maximum of one year imprisonment.
Trooper Conrad noted the citation and suspension can be applied to the registered owner of the offending vehicle. When a school bus driver witnesses a violation, they are required to fill out a report, Conrad said. “So, the bus driver sees this red Ford Focus go around them. They get the license plate, they send it to us (JCSO handles in-county violators while the ISP handles violators from outside Johnson County), they say it looks like it could be driven by someone in their 30s, white, male; and we take that description and go to the location of the owner and we follow up on it. We ask them, ‘Hey, do you remember being on Hwy. 1 at Rapid Creek Road and passing a school bus?’ and based on the information the school bus driver gives us and if the person we’re interviewing says yes I did that, a ticket is issued in most cases.” If the owner says no, they didn’t but for example their son drives the car, “We’ll take the next step and interview the son.” If the son denies it or the parent refuses to allow an officer to interview them, under Iowa law, “we can charge the registered owner. Most things, you have to charge the driver, but this is a state law where we can charge the owner.”
According to statistics provided by Sgt. Schuerer the JCSO responded to four calls for service regarding bus violations in the 2019-20 school year with three citations issued, nine calls in the 2020-21 school year with three citations issued, eight citations out of 16 calls in the 2021-22 school year, and six citations out of eight calls last school year.
Conrad added law enforcement doesn’t want to focus on the violation, but rather the safety of the children. “That’s what its all about,” he said. “That’s what we can’t bring back, the life of somebody. And, we’ve had it happen where a child has been killed by someone going around a bus. People need to understand it’s just such a small fraction of time that you ever come in contact with a bus that has its lights on. But when you do, you’ve just got to pay attention, you’ve got to stop, you’ve got to take that extra moment, take a deep breath, take a sip of your coffee, do whatever you’re going to do, but just don’t violate that law; because it is so important.”
Conrad also urges caution toward kids crossing streets, and particularly busy roads such as Hwy. 1.
“The kids are going back to school, they’re on their bicycles, they’re walking too and from school, so really pay attention during those times, be prepared for those kids.” Even if it’s the child’s fault (from dashing out into traffic), Conrad said you don’t want to be a motorist who hits somebody and kills somebody in that situation, especially children. It’s really tough to deal with that kind of situation and the traumatic stress that comes from it. “Kids don’t always think about safety so just always be aware during those time frames (morning before school, afternoons when school dismisses, and on early-out Thursdays). If there’s a child on a corner, I tell people always assume they’re going to come out in front of you. Be prepared to stop.”

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