CHICAGO — A Southwest Side mother is using her cell phone video camera to bring attention to a rule of the road that’s broken every day.
Tracieann Graham remembers how her 8-year-old son was nearly hit when he got out of their car on the wrong side. The second grader was waiting for his school bus when it happened. At that moment Tracieann realized how many drivers were ignoring the school bus stop arms. She’s been recording drivers ever since and caught video of a CTA bus failing to stop for the school bus.
We sent the video to the CTA and they sent WGN a statement saying, “Safety is CTA’s #1 priority. We are investigating the incident and take any incidents involving traffic violations very seriously. Any reported violations could subject employees to ‘accelerated discipline’ that could involve suspension without pay and discharge.”
The National School Transportation Safety Association estimates 14 million Americans ignore the stop arm every year.
In 1995 Illinois tightened its rules for passing a school bus when a Glenbard South High School student was killed by someone ignoring the stop sign. Right now, drivers could receive a $150 fine and they risk a suspended license.
