Despite the red stop signs and flashing lights, some drivers in town aren’t stopping for school buses when they should, according to the Waterford Police Department.
“Yeah, we usually post a lot about school bus stops at the beginning of the school year. End of April folks!” the department wrote in a Facebook post.
Police recently received several complaints about drivers passing a stopped school bus bound for New London on Boston Post Road and Willetts Ave.
Officers conducted targeted patrols in the area and found several violations, according to Lieutenant Tim Silva.
“When you see it happening in front of a marked police car, you definitely have a problem,” Silva said.
The problem area has four lanes, two in each direction. All drivers in both directions must stop for the school bus as there is no barrier in the middle of the road separating the main road.
“I don’t know if they are impatient or just don’t know what the law is. I just want drivers to pay attention,” Silva said.
Olivia Hill said she watched her driver pass her son’s school bus every day. She contacted the Waterford Police Department for her concerns and is pleased to see an increased police presence in the area.
“It’s scary to think what could happen. It’s not worth the risk,” Hill said.
Waterford police are ramping up enforcement in the area. in Connecticut, Drivers who overtake a stopped school bus will be fined $450.
“The reason they raise it so high is so that people pay attention to it,” Silva said. “We want our children to be safe.”
