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Report: More MD drivers ignoring school bus stop signs

Posted at 5:17 AM, Oct 23, 2018
and last updated 2018-10-23 05:17:48-04

A new report says a lot of drivers ignore school buses when they are picking up children. 

The Maryland Department of Education found 3,812 violations of school bus stop arms on a single day last spring. There were 3,384 violations in 2017.

This is a decrease from 2016, where 4,334 violations were recorded. In 2011 when the survey began, 7,011 people were recorded illegally passing the bus.

The Department of Education conducted the survey in April along with school transportation directors in all 24 school systems. Over 80% of Maryland school bus drivers participated in the survey.

Montgomery County saw the most violations with 1,038. Baltimore County had the second most with 677. Last year, Baltimore County topped the list with Montgomery County in second. 

The results were released to begin School Bus Safety Week, which runs from October 22-26. 

Drivers who are caught driving past school buses when their stop arms are out face a $570 fine and three points on their license.