New study shows many drivers don't stop for school buses with lights blinking in Visalia

VISALIA, Calif. (FOX26) — A new field study in Visalia shows drivers rolling past stopped school buses with red lights blinking and a stop arm extended.

The pilot program between Visalia Unified and a safety technology company recorded hundreds of violations in a three-month period.

It's the law. When red lights are blinking on a stopped school bus, drivers going both ways have to stop. But a field study in Visalia from late November through February shows drivers breaking the law.

VUSD partnered with BusPatrol to monitor traffic. Nine school buses were equipped with cameras mounted on the stop arm.

Video provided by BusPatrol shows most drivers don't even slow down as they approach.

BusPatrol says it recorded nearly 1200 cars that illegally passed school buses that were stopped to load or unload student passengers.

The company says that equates to three violations per bus, each day.

Visalia Unified had no one available to talk to FOX26 News about the field study.

A spokesperson did say, "We are reviewing the results. We also actively partner with Visalia PD on all school safety matters including traffic safety.”

BusPatrol which did the study says Visalia's violation rate is one of the highest it has seen across the country.