HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – Residents in Oak Grove are pleading with motorists to drive safely around busses during pick up and drop off times, specifically on State Line Road. Rising concern led to a few residents getting the attention of nearby drivers with signs.
According to Oak Grove Councilmember Janet Edwards, this came after a preschooler was almost struck while getting onto the bus. Separately, Chelsea Smith Chambers from Oak Grove captured video of a car speeding by a stopped bus. After reaching out to city officials and law enforcement for help, local residents held signs early in the morning this week, encouraging drivers to obey bus laws.
“The problem just persists, it pretty much happens every day,” Oak Grove resident Breana Cash told Christian County Now. “It didn’t seem like there was police presence down there at the time where they were passing the busses, so we took matters into our own hands.”
Oak Grove Police attempt to enforce safety, State Line Road issues
Officers with the Oak Grove Police Department have been attempting to maintain coverage of loading areas whenever they can, with a bus stop monitored by them that picks up right in front of the station. Lieutenant Richard McCormack said they are actively trying to combat this issue but are unable to be everywhere at once.
“If you’re in a hurry, that’s too bad. Kids come first,” said McCormack about careless drivers. “Everyone is in such a hurry nowadays they don’t understand the dangers.”
State Line Road presents a specific danger since students have to cross the opposite lane of traffic in order to get onto the bus. In July, Oak Grove PD shared that over 600,000 motorists drove the city in just one month, with this particular roadway seeing constant traffic as motorists travel between Oak Grove, Fort Campbell, Hopkinsville, and Clarksville.
“It’s going to have to something that’s continually pressed in our community. It’s not just one person, its multiple people,” Cash added.
Aside from posing a direct danger to kids, Oak Grove PD reminds people that passing a bus with a stop sign out and lights on can also result in a misdemeanor charge for a first offense. An additional risk arises during cold temperatures, with drivers unable to properly see children crossing out of side windows that may be frosted.
In the future, McCormack encourages people to use “common sense” and follow the law. Motorists are required to come to a complete stop when lights begin flashing and cannot go until the stop sign is put away.
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