Kids returning To School, Back On Buses This Week

West Georgia school bus drivers remind area drivers that buses with school-aged kids return to the streets this week; and encourage them to keep their eyes open around school buses and follow the laws. Carrolton-City Schools bus driver, Patricia Williamson says the buses provide plenty of alerts for regular drivers, parents and students. “Flashing lights in each upper corner of the bus,” she says. “We turn the amber lights on about 200 feet before the stop to warn people, just like a yellow light on a traffic signal.”

Retiring Carrollton City Schools Transportation Director Skip Veljkov says bus drivers report witnessing other drivers illegally passing their buses at least twice a day. “It’s at least that many times daily we’ve had them run stop signs,” he says. “They’ll pass a stopped bus on the right and the left. Cars do somersaults to get in front of school buses. They just do not want to stay behind them.”

He says sometimes passing a bus is a matter of not paying attention. “Texting or on the cellphone,” he says.Some violators after the fact have called his office to apologize. “I have had parents call me and say ‘I feel terrible, I ran that school bus sign… and I knew at as soon as I did it,’ he says. “A couple times a year that happens.”

Carrollton City School students return to the classrooms on Tuesday.

Haralson County students are back from holiday vacation on Wednesday and both Carroll County Schools and Bremen City Schools return Thursday.