Girl dies when hit by a bus in Aldine ISD (Houston: kids, driver) - Texas (TX) - Page 3 - City-Data Forum

LizzySWW · 05-03-2009, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfre81

What about the 19-year-olds who flunked and are still in high school. Do we draw the line there?

Maybe we'll go in and hold their hands as they do their job interviews too.

Hey, I just said what I thought would be a safe & good idea for keeping bus riding students safe. It was MY idea. Twice today you've felt the need to be sarcastic about my post. I never asked you for your opinion. Go find someone elses posts & thoughts to rip apart.

MrSykes · 05-03-2009, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catfancier

Sort of related...I have a question for drivers when the schoolbus is on the road.. There are a lot of "divided" streets in Houston (you know, with a landscaped median between the two directions.) If the schoolbus is on the OTHER side of the divide from you when it's stopped and letting kids off, are you still supposed to stop your car??? I have heard different answers on this. I had to make a choice recently on this issue -- and chose to stop, but I got a beep from the car behind me.

What is the law here?? Thanks!

No, you don't stop in this case.

MrSykes · 05-03-2009, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LizzySWW

Crossing guards are only located near school campuses and don't travel with the busses. What I was saying is that they should have an adult on the bus who escorts students in front of the bus and safely across the street.

Depends on the age of the student. From what I've noticed, though, really young children are usually met or accompanied by a parent or older sibling immediately upon drop-off. I would think older kids would know to use the crosswalk in such case there is no crossing guard present. At least that's what I was taught as a latchkey kid myself.

Looks like in this case the victim had already made it at least halfway across the street (or at least cleared the bus), only to double back in front of the bus for something she dropped along the way. Escort or no escort, that in itself is a big no-no.

LizzySWW · 05-03-2009, 04:20 PM

Right, and that is my point. Kids, even teens will do dumb stuff (like this girl who doubled back in front of the bus). Bus riders are always taught safety, but they still make dangerous mistakes because they are just kids.
2 bus accidents happened in my neighborhood when I was a kid. Neither would have happened if an escort walked them to the curb across the street. There are just so many different safety measures that could be put in place so this doesn't have to happen again.
Maybe a sensor like newer cars have today....where an alarm sounds if the sensor detects any object in its path???

MissDaisy · 05-03-2009, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poltracker

Even more unfortunate is that I believe the news said that this was the second time this particular driver had hit a child within the last 6 years.

....So I am thinking perhaps this person should lose their license??

ShelbyGirl1 · 05-04-2009, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissDaisy

....So I am thinking perhaps this person should lose their license??

I'm not excusing her in anyway, but she was cleared of being at fault in the first incident. I guess, the second is still under investigation.

N. Buck · 05-04-2009, 09:41 AM

Crap. Now that I think of it:

1. Did she not cross the street everyday? Or was this day different? Is it just me, or would the driver have known that she would cross the street this day like she did every other day?

2. With that in mind, my old bus driver would always remind us to wait for her signal each time we got off the bus. EVERY SINGLE DAY! I would walk up to the front and she would say, "Wait for my signal to cross!" I would then step like 10 feet in front of the bus so I could see her signal. Heck, there were times when she would put her palm up because some idiot driver didn't heed the traffic laws and try to come around the bus while it was stopped. Yeah, that signal saved my life a few times!

3. Lastly, I just thought about this today. Public transportation is nice in Philly. So much so, that we don't have school busses (at least not for kids commuting to school, but maybe for athletic events). SEPTA, the transit authority, has those flat-front busses so the drivers can see pretty much anything in front of them. This makes for less kids getting hit. It also makes for stupid train and bus rides. Those high schoolers think they are so cool. Playing loud music while on a crowded subway train. I've wanted to run them down as though I was a school bus that didn't see them . . .

houstoner · 05-04-2009, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N. Buck

1. Did she not cross the street everyday? Or was this day different? Is it just me, or would the driver have known that she would cross the street this day like she did every other day?

As I understand it, this day was different. The student crossed in front of the bus, but dropped something and went back for it. I inferred that she bent down to pick it up and that's when the bus driver ran over her.

Anyway, I don't really get why all the back-and-forth about this. It was a tragic accident. Accidents happen. If they didn't, they'd be called on-purpose-idents.

LostInHouston · 05-04-2009, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catfancier

Sort of related...I have a question for drivers when the schoolbus is on the road.. There are a lot of "divided" streets in Houston (you know, with a landscaped median between the two directions.) If the schoolbus is on the OTHER side of the divide from you when it's stopped and letting kids off, are you still supposed to stop your car??? I have heard different answers on this. I had to make a choice recently on this issue -- and chose to stop, but I got a beep from the car behind me.

What is the law here?? Thanks!

Here: Texas Department of Public Safety - Courtesy, Service, Protection

"State law requires approaching drivers to stop when a school bus is stopped and operating a visual signal (red flashing lights or a stop sign). Drivers should not proceed until the school bus resumes motion; the driver is signaled by the bus driver to proceed; or the visual signal is no longer activated. A driver does not have to stop for a school bus if it is on a highway with roadways separated by an intervening space or physical barrier. (If a highway is divided only by a left-turning lane, the roadways are not separated, and drivers must stop for school buses.)"

N. Buck · 05-04-2009, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by houstoner

As I understand it, this day was different. The student crossed in front of the bus, but dropped something and went back for it. I inferred that she bent down to pick it up and that's when the bus driver ran over her.

Anyway, I don't really get why all the back-and-forth about this. It was a tragic accident. Accidents happen. If they didn't, they'd be called on-purpose-idents.

Ah, I didn't know about that. This makes things much different!

As far as the back and forth, I think people are trying to come up with solutions so that it doesn't happen again (though it looks more like bickering). My suggestion? Update METRO. MASS OVERHAUL! And then force everyone to either ride METRO or a bicycle. No cars.

But I love cycling, so . . . I know I know I know, everyone is gonna be mad at me for that comment.