PARIS — Oxford Hills School District officials are reminding motorists they must stop when a school bus is loading or unloading children.

“We’re talking kids and safety,” said interim Transportation Director John Parsons of the ongoing problem of getting drivers to stop for school buses.

One bus driver recently reported to Parsons that three cars whizzed by her on lower Main Street in Norway while the bus was at a complete stop, with flashing lights and safety arm extended.

The driver of the third car who drove by the bus reportedly pointed to the preceding cars as if to say, “’If they can do it, I can do it,’” while the bus driver frantically tried to stop him, Parsons said.

“Our drivers get scared and frustrated,” he said, when drivers disregard the lights.

The law is very clear, he said. When the red lights are flashing and the swing arm is extended on a school bus, all cars going each direction must come to a stop until the bus continues on.

Bus drivers are careful to put on their amber lights to provide enough lead time for cars to stop safely before the red lights go on, he said.

“It’s fair warning,” said Parsons of the light system that was changed in the 1970s to an eight-light system to heighten the safety for the students.

Because the bus driver’s first responsibility is for the children’s safety, Parsons said it is not easy to get the license plates of offenders, but he is asking anyone who sees a motorist go past a stopped bus with flashers on to jot down the license plate and report it to the local police.

“Our drivers take kids and safety to heart. It’s top on their priority,” he said.

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