Study: Hundreds of drivers passing school bus stop signs

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Action News has uncovered startling new information about the safety of local kids on school buses. A new report by the Florida Department of Education shows drivers are endangering local children by illegally passing school busses.

According the report, in one day in Duval County, 896 drivers passed a school bus that had its stop sign out.  

Darlene Haywood has been a bus driver for eight years, and said drivers pass her bus every day, narrowly missing students.  

"One day, everyone was stopped and this particular car came around traffic," Haywood said. 

Haywood took part in the survey and said that particular day, five drivers passed her bus.

Officer Christian Hancock with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office was surprised by the findings.

"It's unconscionable to think it would be that high, obviously it's an issue," he said.   

According to JSO, passing a bus can mean to anywhere from three to five points on your license,  and hundreds of dollars in fines.   

Haywood believes the only real way to protect local kids is for drivers to put down their cellphones and pay attention to the rules ofthe road.

"Think about if it was your child what would you do? You wouldn't be driving around the bus? You wouldn't be driving around the bus," she said.

WJAX