Around 400 students returned to schools across Mineral County in the past few weeks. But this year as bus routes resumed, Montana drivers who share these roadways could face new penalties for passing school buses illegally.

In 2021, lawmakers in the Montana State Legislative session increased fines from $500 to $1,000 for reckless driving; when a driver passes a stopped school bus while its red signal is blinking. Drivers could now also face jail time for this offense. Yellow buses will also have longer and larger stop signal arms.

Amy Lowry, has been driving bus for the St. Regis School District for 18 years. She said, “I do the west end route through the canyon. The most dangerous in my opinion. I also cover any in town routes as well as field trips and sports. I’m all over the state in a bus!” During the work week she leaves the school in the early morning light around 6:40 a.m. On average she has about 25 riders aboard.

In all her years driving bus she has experienced some close calls with the children who get on and off at her stops. She recalled “I could have had some near fatalities. I have had people never slow down and pass me on the left-hand side shoulder. Luckily, I stayed aware and noticed they were not slowing so I held my arm out so students could not get off.” Lowry added, “You really need to be aware of what traffic is doing. I’ve also had dump trucks and log trucks not even attempt to stop on Highway 135.”

It’s common knowledge, or at least it should be, that when a stop signal arm is extended and its red lights are flashing, drivers should stop. New laws call for drivers to now stop 30 feet away. And when a school bus is stopped at a four-way intersection, drivers aren’t allowed turn left, right or pass the school bus.

School districts throughout the county have installed the extended stop arms on their local route buses. Stop signal arms aren’t new on these large yellow transporters, they were introduced on American school buses in the 1940’s. But even so Lowry declared, “There are so many people who do not stop at all!” And she continued, “They just slow down and creep by. Especially if I’m stopped in a nontraditional spot like the Silver Dollar parking lot. People still need to wait until reds are off and stop sign is in before moving.”

If a stop arm is extended while on a roadway with a raised median all drivers headed in the same direction as the bus are required to stop. On a non-divided highway or two-lane road, a stop arm means drivers heading in either direction must stop.

“I think people just don’t care! I would think the flashing red lights on a bus is pretty universal to mean stop. I would like to see more on TV and hear more radio ads stating the laws and what it could mean. And I wish cameras were standard issue for outside traffic. That way those who break the law could be persecuted easily,” said Lowry.

Nonetheless she looks forward to climbing aboard her bus each morning and setting out to pick up the waiting children. Lowry expressed, “I love my job. While it can be extremely challenging when it comes to roads and other drivers, I still find it rewarding. You are the first and last to see the kids. You make their day!”

While St. Regis and Alberton run their regular bus routes Monday through Thursday for their four-day school weeks, Superior bus routes continue five days a week. So, as you’re commuting to work or traveling before and after school times keep any eye out for school children along area bus routes.

Lowry remarked, “The one thing I would tell drivers is give me SPACE. Don’t be so quick to speed past. You never know when a child will come out of nowhere. Or be running for their parents’ vehicle. It could be your child on the bus!”