LOS ANGELES : School Bus Drivers to Be Taught Train Crossing Rules
Nearly half the 78 motorist traffic violations monitored at key Metrolink train crossings involved school buses, prompting the start-up of seminars to teach school bus drivers the rules, officials said.
“It’s frightening. We wanted to identify crossings where we had a lot of violations. It was really surprising when we saw all the school buses” said James Mcinerney, a California Public Utilities Commission inspector.
The revelation came less than a week after a city worker was killed when his truck was struck by a Metrolink train at a private, unguarded crossing in Pacoima.
Monitors were posted at key Metrolink rail crossings during the first 13 days of the 5-week-old commuter trains’ operation. There were 78 traffic violations, 35 of them by school bus drivers, officials said.
School buses carrying pupils must make a stop between 15 and 50 feet from every railroad crossing whether the warning signals are flashing or not, said Sheriff’s Lt. Marc Klugman.
Stunned by the high number of school bus drivers who apparently were unaware of traffic laws regarding rail crossings, safety and transit officials said Monday they have started a program of educational seminars.
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