For the second day in a row, Sky Action News Jax captured a school bus blocking traffic with students onboard. This time, it was outside Ed White High School on the Westside.
We first uncovered the practice earlier this week outside River City Science Academy on Beach Boulevard.
Law enforcement say they are taking steps to keep school bus drivers from risking your child's safety and we’ve learned how the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol plan to do it.
On Tuesday, we gave both JSO and FHP video of buses blocking traffic in front of River CIty Science Academy. Now one day later, we’re told they're taking new steps to prevent this from happening in the future.
Police call buses being used to block traffic an illegal and dangerous move.
“I don't think they should be using children to block traffic,” one woman told us.
On Wednesday, we learned that JSO’s traffic supervisor told school and bus officials to stop blocking traffic. FHP also said the move is illegal and their patrols are getting copies of our video so they can be on the lookout to stop it.
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“You are putting yourself and other road users in danger by doing this,” said Jimmy Jones, who has more than 15 years’ experience of professional driving and instruction.
“They didn’t do anything they should have done. If they were being tested at that point, when you stop in a travel lane or intersection, your test is over,” Jones said.
Jones said buses can be in a rush to get children home, but that's no excuse.
“Heaven forbid someone happened to be texting as they’re coming up on this and they don’t see it till it’s too late,” Jones said.
The bus companies say they're looking into these dangerous situations.
“It says most bus accidents happen at intersections or cross traffic and to deliberately put a school bus into cross traffic is just crazy to me,” Jones said.
Since we first exposed the problem at River City Science Academy, we've received tips of this happening at possibly four other schools. That’s something we’ll be investigating as we continue to make sure parents and their children are safe out on the road.
If you see any drivers using their buses to block traffic, you're asked to call the Duval County school transportation department at (904) 858-6200.
Cox Media Group
