Motorist Comprehension of Florida's School Bus Stop Law and School Bus Signalization Devices.

摘要

In May 1995, the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) conducted a study on behalf of the Florida Department of Education (DOE) that investigated the frequency and extent with which drivers in Florida were illegally passing stopped school buses during a typical school day. From this study, approximately 10,600 vehicles were recorded to be illegally passing stopped school buses during a typical school day in 58 of the 67 school districts in Florida. This alarming number of illegal passes of stopped school buses raises several broad and important issues about drivers in Florida. First, how well do drivers in Florida understand various traffic control devices including signalizations and traffic signage and, second, how well do drivers in Florida understand their driving responsibilities as defined in certain state traffic laws. Any program to increase the comprehension of drivers about the meaning of various traffic control devices and traffic laws must include a combination of corrective measures selected from law enforcement, education, and engineering. Based in part on the findings from the illegal passing study, this current study sought to answer the following two questions: (1) Do drivers in Florida understand their responsibilities as defined in Section 316.172, F.S., the school bus stop law; and (2) Do drivers in Florida comprehend the meaning of the various signalizations used on school buses to communicate to them that a school bus is either coming to a stop or is stopped for the express purpose of loading or unloading children at a school bus stop.