KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) – Concern for her children’s safety has prompted Gabrielle Long to speak out about a troubling trend in Kingsport: drivers frequently ignoring school bus stop signs.
“This issue began last school year,” Long explained. “Initially, it was an occasional problem, but now it’s happening three to four times a week.”
Under Tennessee law, motorists are required to slow down for buses with flashing yellow lights and come to a complete stop when the bus extends its stop sign.
In response to the growing danger, Long began recording the bus stops in September, capturing evidence of the violations.
Seeking a solution, she contacted the officer at her daughter’s school, who advised her to reach out to the Kingsport Police Department.
“I’ve spoken with four different officers, and each one has suggested I report the incidents using the non-emergency line, which I’ve been diligently doing,” Long noted.
When News Channel 11 visited Long’s on Friday morning at the time of the bus stop, a KPD officer was in Long’s driveway watching for illegal passers.
When the bus comes in the mornings, it has to park on the left side of the street, so many students have to cross the street to get on. Long said one of the issues comes from a curve in the road.
“You can’t see nothing,” Long said. “We don’t have no caution lights of ‘hey, there’s a bus stop here.’”
Jim Nash, the Chief Student Services Officer at Kingsport City Schools, said they are aware of the situation.
“We will have that every year to some degree,” Nash said. “This year it is picked up and is frequency. The most frequent area that we have gotten calls on is on Lebanon Road, off of Fort Henry Drive.
“We do have evidence or situations where cars have driven through the red stop sign.”
Nash said they are working to communicate with parents and have been in contact with KPD. He also said some of the buses are equipped with cameras.
“If we’re able to catch a license plate, we can turn that information over the police department, and then they can make whatever decision they did feel is appropriate in terms of talking with that person and that driver and whatever those next steps may be.
“We appreciate parents who are calling about safety concerns, and we thank them for that because that does allow us to talk to KPD and others.”
KPD said in a statement:
“The Kingsport Police Department is aware of the citizen complaint in the area of Lebanon Road and Fort Henry Drive. Police have spoken with the concerned citizen who posted a video on social media of an SUV illegally passing a Kingsport City School Bus and have begun coordinating resources within our department to have the citizen’s safety concern addressed.”
Kingsport Police Department
Long said she would like to see caution signs and road mirrors placed around the street.
“I’ve had company trucks run through the bus, I’ve had people who has kids inside their car run through the bus,” Long said. “Everybody just needs to start being caution about it because something needs to be done about it.”
