ORANGEBURG COUNTY, SC (WIS) -
Hercules Miller is a school bus driver for Orangeburg Consolidated School District 5. His responsibility is to make sure his students make it to school and back home safely.
"That's our job," he said. "It is a job. Believe you me."
But other drivers on the road make his job difficult. Some drivers ignore the caution lights and stop sign on his bus.
"There have been mornings where I see two and three cars right behind one another pass the stop arm," said Miller.
He said it's happened four times this school year.
"Make you feel like you have been disrespected," said Miller. "People seem to be interested in getting to work than about the safety of their kids."
The South Carolina Highway Patrol is now involved. After getting complaints from parents and bus drivers, each morning and afternoon a Highway Patrol officer sits on the bus or follows a bus route in an unmarked car.
"We definitely don't want any kid killed out here because someone is not paying attention," said Trooper Willie McCauley. "If these people are not doing what they are supposed to be doing we definitely want to catch them."
According to the state law, If you're on a two-lane road, when a school bus flashes it's red lights, drivers behind the bus and coming from the opposite direction must stop
If you're on a four-lane road, the law says drivers behind the bus must stop. But drivers coming from the opposite direction should slow down and use caution.
Violators can be fined $500 or face up to 30 days in jail.
Troopers say the enforcement effort is ongoing. They plan to expand the enforcement to other school districts in the area.
So far, they have not caught any drivers breaking the law.
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SC Highway Patrol cracking down on violators of school bus law
