Local Schools, Law Enforcement Discuss Safety Ahead of 2023-24 School Year

By: Corbin Lingenfelter, News Director

Dubois Co.- All Dubois County Schools are preparing for the next academic year.

With school returning on Wednesday, August 9th, local school officials and law enforcement are reminding drivers of safety laws in place involving school buses.

“Most of your students’ school buses will be picking up probably just before seven in the morning,” said Dubois County Sheriff’s Deputy and Northeast Dubois School Corporation School Resource officer Tim Lampert. 

Lampert says drivers should watch their speed as they travel the roads across the county, especially when around buses. In the 2022-23 academic year, the Dubois County Prosecutor’s Office says ten misdemeanor charges were filed against drivers for stop arm violations and forty-eight citations were issued by law enforcement. 

A majority of the problems in the city of Jasper are on specific roads, says Jasper Police and Jasper School Resource officer Jason Knies.

“Where we have the biggest problems are multi-lane roadways,” Officer Knies said, “Such as Newton Street, Third Avenue, being three or four lane roadways.”

The graphic above shows the law for the state of Indiana when it comes to bus stops on two lane and multi-lane roadways, like the two mentioned by Officer Knies. If a bus stops, with its flashing lights and stop sign signaled, on a two lane road, all vehicles in either direction are required to stop. If a bus stops, with the same criteria mentioned as before, on a multi-lane road with no concrete barrier, all vehicles in both directions must stop. The only time vehicles do not have to stop for a bus arm is on a multi-lane road with a concrete barrier splitting both directions. Those traveling in the opposite direction do not have to stop. These roads, however, are not in Dubois County.

Deputy Lampert says first yellow lights will flash, alerting drivers of a pending stop, before turning red and the stop sign swinging out.

“A lot of people when they see the yellow lights come on the buses, they aren’t paying attention,” said Deputy Lampert, “When you see those yellow or amber lights come on, you know what’s going to happen. Please do not treat it like a traffic light and think you can beat the red.”

There’s a Cardinal rule across the state says Glenn Buechlein, GJCS Transportation and Safety Director. 

“Try to have your kiddos at the bus stop five minutes before their pick up time,” Buechlein said. 

Students should also never chase a bus, as the driver cannot see them. Buechlein also reiterated that parents are responsible for the students once they exit the bus and are at their stop.

A full conversation with Glenn Buechlein and Officer Jason Knies can be heard on Sunday, August 6th, at 11:30 on 104.7 WITZ-FM and witzamfm.com.