BUS STOPS PLACED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT INTERSECTIONS
I would like your thoughts on a bus stop being placed at a traffic light intersection. Do you feel it is safer than at an entrance to a development (no traffic lights) or an intersection with stop signs.
Do you find that more vehicles ignore the bus reds if the stop at a traffic light is green than if the stop is not at a traffic light intersection ?
It depends on the type of intersection. I would prefer not to have them at an intersection that is controlled by a traffic light. We have one in our district, for us it’s completely unavoidable and it is at a “T” intersection. The traffic stops coming in the other direction 99.9% of the time, however vehicles are always making a right-hand turn passing the bus. Fortunately it’s one of the busier roads in the township, a hazardous route, so no students cross there anyway.
I agree with Chris, I think it would be better not to have a bus stop at a traffic light intersection. I think the drivers would pay more attention to the traffic light than the bus. If my memory serves me, I think Bensalem SD had a stop or 2 at traffic light intersections where students were hit by cars. Also, when I was at CB we tried to get a walking route approved by Penndot. They did approve it as long as we put a crossing guard at the traffic light controlled intersection, but they did not require a crossing guard at a 4 way stop intersection. We never got a clear explanation for that.
I have to agree with Jim and Chris. Putting a bus stop at a traffic controlled intersection opens up so many unsafe situations.
I have a number of bus stops that are at signalized intersections. In each most cases, they are unavoidable. However, each of those stops is also designated where no student would need to cross the road.
I also see the same result as Chris mentioned. Most of the time, traffic stops.
Agree with everyone that it’s not ideal – too easy to confuse traffic, and too many motorists aren’t sure whether the bus or the light is controlling the intersection.