Education - School Bus Stops - Prohibited Locations
Impact
The bill, if enacted, will amend both the Education and Transportation articles of the Annotated Code of Maryland to formalize these restrictions on school bus stop placements. With the effective date set for July 1, 2024, local jurisdictions authorized to use school bus monitoring cameras will be affected, as the bill seeks to ensure that significant safety measures accompany the bus stops located on busy highways. This change aims to provide a more secure environment for students, particularly in areas with heavy vehicular traffic.
Summary
House Bill 540 aims to enhance safety for students at school bus stops by prohibiting the location of school bus stops on highways with five or more undivided traffic lanes unless specific safety measures are in place. These measures include the posting of a school crossing guard or the installation of a traffic control device that maintains a red signal while students are boarding or disembarking from the bus. The intention behind this bill is to reduce the risk of accidents in high-traffic areas, thereby protecting students who rely on buses for transportation to and from school.
Contention
While the bill seeks to enhance student safety, there may be varying perspectives on its implications. Supporters, particularly in education and transportation sectors, may argue that the structured regulations will lead to fewer accidents and better student protection. However, critics might question the feasibility of implementing these measures in every applicable location. They may worry about potential increased traffic delays or the burden on school districts and municipalities to provide crossing guards and install the required traffic control devices at numerous school bus stops.
Permits municipality to enact ordinance regulating where sex offenders may reside; restricts locations of certain child care centers and school bus stops.
Urging The Safe Routes To School Advisory Committee To Collaborate With The Department Of Education, Department Of Transportation, And The County Of Hawaii To Conduct An Inventory Of Bus Stops On Hawaii Island Utilized By Children To Travel To School And Develop Strategies To Improve Safety At Each Location.
Urging The Department Of Education To Collaborate With The Department Of Transportation, Safe Routes To School Advisory Committee, And The County Of Hawaii To Conduct An Inventory Of Bus Stops On Hawaii Island Utilized By Children To Travel To School And Develop Strategies To Improve Safety At Each Location.
Relates to the passing of stopped school buses on divided highways; provides that vehicles traveling in the opposite direction of a school bus on such highway shall not have to stop if a physical barrier is present between the different directions of travel.