As the calendar tips over into August, Cobb County Schools are gearing up to welcome students back this Thursday. With the beginning of the school season, all eyes turn to the safety of the kids and the responsibility of local drivers. According to a recent notice from Cobb County, there's a hefty price to pay for those who disregard the laws regarding school buses.
Starting July 1, Georgia law stipulates harsher penalties for the impatient motorist who decides to illegally pass a stopped school bus. If a police officer catches you in the act, prepare to possibly shell out a minimum of $1,000, and or to find yourself behind bars for up to a year. Camera footage from bus-mounted devices can also serve to quickly lighten your wallet by the same amount, in the form of a civil fine. Let's not forget to mention, these changes aren't just about fines; they're about lives—the young lives that are precariously hurrying to and from these big yellow carriers of the future.
Motorists would do well to remember that yellow flashing lights signal that a school bus is preparing to stop. When red lights flash and the stop sign arm stretches out, it means kids are on the move. In this scenario, cars must stop and stay stopped— until the red lights go off, the stop sign retracts, and the bus resumes its journey.
When children are present beside the road, Cobb County reminds drivers to take it slow and be ever-vigilant. The possibility of a child darting out into traffic is a heart-stopping hazard, and as drivers, we have the responsibility to always be ready to stop suddenly.
