Bus Driver: Cars Pass
School Bus on Right
By Sandy Vondrasek

Ruby Runnels of Randolph has been driving school buses for 14 years and up until this year she has never had a vehicle pass her stopped bus on the right—that’s right, on the door-side of the bus.

It’s happened twice this year—both times on Route 66, with the drivers going into the breakdown lane to pass the bus.

"Both times I had my yellow lights flashing for about 300 feet before the stop," she said.

She had already stopped the bus, and opened the door, "which makes the red lights and stop arm start flashing," when the cars passed, she reported.

Both times the student was at the top of the stairs, ready to get off the bus.

"I laid on my horn, but that didn’t matter to them," she said.

Runnels is, understandably, worried and furious.

"I was taught that this cargo we haul is precious, and we need to do everything we can to protect it. We cannot replace these kids; there isn’t enough money in the world," she fumed.

On Thursday, Nov. 15, Runnels’ 77-passenger bus was stopped on Route 66 eastbound, across from Harlow Hill Road to discharge a student when a green Subaru—Runnels didn’t catch the plate—zoomed by on the right. Later, she caught sight of it at McDonald’s.

The same thing happened at the end of September, when Runnels had stopped opposite McDonald’s to discharge a student who worked there. That time it was a GMC Blazer, she said.

Runnels also reported that on a recent morning, a woman driving a car, coming toward the stopped bus on the North Randolph Road, also failed to stop for the bus. What’s worse is that she swerved right, off the road, and almost hit the three young students waiting to cross the road and get on the bus.

"I know no one is perfect," Runnels said. "I also know life is moving faster and faster for us all. But I would ask you to think if your child was on a bus, would you go around that bus?"

For those caught illegally passing a school bus, the consequence is five points on their license and a fine of $228.

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