DILLSBURG, Pa. — As students begin the new school year, school and state officials are urging drivers to pay attention for bus drivers as they pick off and drop off kids.
“We have an important role to keep them safe,” said Diane Nickel, a bus driver for the Northern York School District.
Nickel is entering her 20th year as a bus driver for Northern York School District. She said over the years she has encountered a number of unsafe drivers while on the road.
Nickel said it’s an issue that continues getting worse every year.
“It’s scary and it’s frustrating, and you get upset because you know that this child’s life is in your hands right now,” said Nickel.
According to the Unified Judicial System of PA, 8,759 drivers were given tickets for illegally passing a school bus from 2019-2023. Of that, five percent of those tickets were handed out in York County.
“These kids are vulnerable in certain situations when people are violating the law,” said Dave Thompson, a spokesman for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
Thompson said drivers should pay more attention for students and school buses—especially during morning pick up times.
He adds drivers should follow all speed limits in school zones and to always stop when a bus is picking up students.
“You still have to slow down and stop when those red lights are flashing, and the stop arm is out,” said Thompson. “And you have to stay stopped until the lights are no longer flashing.”
Roher Bus has added brand-new exterior cameras on its bus fleet. Nickel said the cameras should help better protect kids and catch anyone breaking the law.
“They will catch the offenders more easily for us when we have these people who are going through our red lights,” said Nickel.