Jackson Township leaders call for new school bus drop-off rules to help protect students
Officials say the new rules would help prevent students from being struck by cars while boarding or leaving a school bus.
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A young child was nearly run over on his way to school earlier this week in Jackson when a driver failed to stop for a school bus.
Town leaders now want new rules so children would no longer be required to cross the busy street to catch their bus, as a result of these growing close calls.
Jackson Township Council President Jennifer Kuhn says she wants change.
“This is not to condone what the drivers are doing but it’s honestly just to keep kids safe,” said Kuhn.
Under her plan, school buses would only pick up and drop off students on the busiest roads with higher speed limits or multiple lanes on the right side of the roadway to help eliminate the chance that a child is struck by a driver not paying attention.
“We can’t be everywhere. We can't follow every bus in town, so it just adds an extra layer of protection for the children,” said Jackson Township Police Public Safety Director Joseph Candido.
Parents who spoke with News 12 say they’ve seen close calls.
“All the time. Doesn’t even matter if there is a median or not in the road. They just go around them and don’t care,” said parent Carol Costello.
Eli Klein is a father of four and supports the change.
“Definitely, that would make a tremendous difference as much as possible to circumvent a bad situation happening,” said Klein.
There are about 5,000 private and public school children in Jackson Township. Town leaders expect that number to more than double over the next two years.
“It’s going to go to the public and private schools and hopefully we can come to a meeting of the minds and we can come with something that everyone is happy to keep the kids safe,” said Kuhn.
Police say the change would not give bad drivers a free pass – it just adds an extra layer of protection for children crossing the dangerous roads throughout the 100-square-mile township.
“Pay attention, stay off your phones and watch for children,” said Candido.
The first reading of the ordinance is scheduled to be heard during the Jackson Township Council meeting on Feb. 27.
