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Busted by the School Bus Driver
Thursday, September 13, 2012 by Sara McTigue from Buzzworthy Bulletins
Getting to school or work on time in the morning can be a challenging proposition. Between getting children packed up and dressed, car troubles, traffic troubles, and all the other possible sources of delay it’s sometimes a wonder that we can get anywhere on time.
One delay that many face in the daily commute is the slow-down caused by a school bus completing the daily pick-up routine. Getting “stuck” behind a bus can add minutes to your travel time, but for most drivers the necessity of safe passage for the occupants of the bus is enough to calm their impatience long enough for everyone to be safely and legally be on their way. But not Shena Hardin.
According to Hardin’s mother (who was the only one willing to speak to reporters), there was a simple explanation for her daughter driving around stopped traffic, ONTO A SIDEWALK, and past the school bus with lights flashing and STOP sign visible.
“The bus, for some reason, takes an inordinate amount of time talking to the parent or whatever every day,” said the driver’s mother. “While he’s doing all that we’re waiting trying to get through. Now this morning, she [her daughter] was late, she was trying to get her daughter to school. The reason for going around and going to the side was to give that bus plenty of room.”
The stop in question, which is close to Hardin’s home, is to pick up a handicapped student. Anyone who has seen an equipped school bus knows that these stops might take a few minutes to complete. But what anyone who has seen a school bus on the road also knows is that they follow a schedule – same time, same stops, every day.
If Hardin was feeling that the bus stop interfered with her getting her own child to school on time, she could plan to leave a few minutes sooner, or take a different route. Instead, she put her own impatience ahead of the safety and well-being of the children on the bus, other motorists, and the safety of her own daughter – a passenger in her car.
Luckily, the concerned bus driver made note of this behavior – a recurring issue, rather than a one-time mistake – and decided to take action. His video of the incident, combined with police intervention, led to Hardin receiving a citation. Hopefully the warning – combined with the media attention – will be enough to change her behavior. Unfortunately, that still leaves the thousands of other motorists who also disregard the bus stop rules to contend with each day.
Buses are a very safe option for transport to and from school. Please do your part to keep it that way.
Sara McTigue
Sara McTigue is a secret agent, cupcake chef, award winning author, photographer, and PTA mom. At least, that is how things look in her mind. When she isn’t testing the bounds of her imagination, she is a mom to three amazing and hilariously funny children, wife to...Read More
