BERLIN – Local law enforcement will begin working with school system officials to address the growing number of vehicles illegally passing stopped school buses in the Berlin area.
Steve Price, transportation supervisor for Worcester County public schools, said he would be meeting with law enforcement in the near future to talk about ways to ensure students getting on and off buses in the Berlin area, particularly along Old Ocean City Boulevard, remained safe.
“We want to do whatever we can,” Price said. “I’m certainly going to listen to what the experts have to say and what my drivers have to say.”
The issue was raised at a meeting of the Berlin Town Council Monday. Councilman Thom Gulyas said for months he has seen drivers passing stopped school buses on Old Ocean City Boulevard, particularly in the Atlantic General Hospital (AGH) area.
“I travel that road quite often,” Gulyas said. “People are running by stopped school buses. It drives me crazy.”
Gulyas even snapped photos of some of the vehicles he saw going by buses as they were discharging children.
“I just find it frustrating that people think it’s ok to pass a bus,” he said. “You’re going to kill somebody. I can’t stand it.”
Berlin Police Chief Arnold Downing said part of the problem was driveways and entrances near the intersection weren’t lined up so some drivers weren’t even aware they were doing anything wrong.
“In their minds, they’re not running through the red light,” Downing said.
He added that one solution might be setting up a bus shelter for the children from the Decatur Apartments, the complex across Old Ocean City Boulevard from AGH. He said a shelter would let drivers know that was a regular stop.
“If we find places to place them, we can find the shelters,” Downing said.
Price agreed there were issues with drivers passing buses in that area. He said the intersection was busy and when buses stopped to let children off at the apartment complex some drivers didn’t realize they should be stopping their vehicles.
“One of the challenges we have in northern Worcester County is we educate the local citizens every year but in the spring and fall we have to educate visitors,” he said.
Price will work with Downing and other law enforcement officials to see how the situation could be improved.
“If we need to make adjustments we will,” he said. “It’s a continuing process.”