Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City & Inverness, Florida Accident Attorney and Alachua County DUI Lawyer Blogs

Operation Bluebird is commendable; but we need more!

 It appears that recent local school bus accidents--particularly, the September 23rd, 2008 Ocala tragedy, in which thirteen year-old Frances Schee was killed when a tractor-trailer rear-ended the stationary school bus on which she was riding—have inspired some action.

 Police officers from the Alachua County Sheriff's Office, the Gainesville Police Department, and the Florida Highway Patrol have joined forces to "crack down" on illegal school bus passing.  The program, named Operation Bluebird, calls for strict enforcement of state laws regarding motorists passing a school bus.  Florida law requires motorists to stop (unless there is an unpaved or raised median) when a school bus stops, turns on its flashing lights, and extends its stop sign.

 Last week, officers issued 28 citations to motorists for illegally passing a school bus.  They also issued 36 related citations, gave 28 warnings, and issued two criminal citations.

 Operation Bluebird is a commendable program and the police coalition's efforts are indeed laudable.  The program, however, does not directly address the central and common issue regarding the recent school bus accidents, including the one that took France's life: driver distraction.  The illegal passing of a school bus did not cause any of these accidents; to the contrary, the motorist struck the bus from behind in each case.  Until the issue of driver distraction is addressed through legislation and community involvement, programs like Operation Bluebird, while effective in other ways, only serve to distract us from addressing and remedying the real danger on our roads--drivers failing to pay attention because they are preoccupied with talking on a cell phone, reading or more shockingly, sending a text message!

 We need to develop programs and pass laws that not only protect our school children but everyone on the road!