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Maryland State Police responded to this Garrett County school bus accident that occurred on Rt. 219 just north of Rt. 42 in McHenry. Investigation revealed that Bryan Louis Lenhart, 60, Accident, was operating the 2005 Blue bus south, when for unknown reasons, he lost control of the vehicle, struck a guardrail, and came to rest on an embankment. Lenhart and one student were transported by Northern Rescue Squad to Garrett County Memorial Hospital, where they were treated for minor injuries and later released. No charges were filed against Lenhart. Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division are pictured assisting at the afternoon scene. Photo by Lisa Broadwater.

Buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland? Call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! I take great pride in referrals, and I assure you, I will take great care of your friends, family & colleagues!

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Safety move

Grant will target illegal passing of school buses
Anonymous Cumberland Times-News The Cumberland Times-News Sun Jul 31, 2011, 06:28 PM EDT

— Schools will open for a new year in just a few weeks, and when they do police throughout Maryland will be on the lookout for vehicles illegally passing school buses.

It’s no small problem. During a one-day survey in February, bus drivers throughout Maryland reported 7,028 violations, 4,000 of which were by oncoming drivers who ignored the stop arms of buses. Another 2,665 vehicles traveling in the same direction as the buses passed on the left and 366 actually passed illegally on the right.

In Garrett County, numerous drivers were cited for illegally passing buses during the last school year, according to Sheriff Rob Corley.

Allegany County school transportation director Jay Walbert said his school system averages three “run-throughs,” or illegal bus passes, a week. “They can happen anywhere, but two spots with frequent run-throughs are the three-lane on McMullen Highway (south of Middle Ridge) and not far from the (Maryland State Police) barrack on National Highway,” he said.

To step up enforcement of state laws dealing with illegal passing, the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention is doling out $548,411 in grants to law enforcement officers throughout the state. The Allegany County Sheriff’s Office and the Cumberland Police Department are receiving $10,000 each. Another $20,000 is going to the Garrett County Sheriff’s Office.

The safety of school children is vital and these grants should help dramatically increase school bus safety awareness. Don’t be surprised to see a frequent police presence during school bus trips on school mornings and afternoons.

Allegany and Garrett county public schools will reopen Aug. 24.

More here.

Buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland? Call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! I take great pride in referrals, and I assure you, I will take great care of your friends, family & colleagues!

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Garrett County receives grant to stop illegal school bus passers

Sheriff plans to curb frequent traffic violations
Michael A. Sawyers
The Cumberland Times-News Wed Jul 27, 2011, 11:14 PM EDT

— CUMBERLAND — Garrett County Sheriff Rob Corley said that a $20,000 state grant will keep officers on the road before and after school in an effort to reduce the number of vehicles illegally passing school buses.

The money comes from the Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention and is part of $548,411 being given to various law enforcement agencies throughout the state.

During a one-day survey in February, bus drivers throughout Maryland reported 7,028 violations, 4,000 of which were by oncoming drivers who ignored the stop arms of buses. Another 2,665 vehicles traveling in the same direction as the buses passed on the left and 366 actually passed illegally on the right.

“We have had these grants for four years now and they are reducing the violations, though the problem is ongoing,” Corley said Monday. “One particularly bad spot is U.S. 219, at Sand Flat Road.”

Corley said the buses stop in the right lane of the two southbound lanes on the three-lane road. Southbound drivers often continue past the stopped bus, even though red lights are flashing and a stop arm is engaged, the sheriff said.

“Our officers charged numerous drivers this past school year,” Corley said. “We often get calls from other motorists who have witnessed violations. We also meet with school transportation officials to identify problem areas.”

Corley said the grant pays for overtime work, thus allowing officers to apply their full shifts to other enforcement efforts. The deputies either follow buses on their routes or set up for observation at known problem areas.

The money may also be used for driver education by way of public service announcements.

There were 4,712 school bus drivers involved in the one-day survey in February, about two-thirds of the drivers in the state.

The Allegany County Sheriff’s Office and the Cumberland Police Department each received $10,000 grants.

Jay Walbert, transportation director for Allegany County schools, said drivers have two-way radios and are asked to immediately report violations if they note a license plate number and vehicle description.

“We average three run-throughs a week,” Walbert said. “They can happen anywhere, but two spots with frequent run-throughs are the three-lane on McMullen Highway (south of Middle Ridge) and not far from the (Maryland State Police) barrack on National Highway.”

“When in doubt, stop,” Walbert cautions. “Our bus drivers see vehicles pass the bus on the right or door side. Students stepping down from the bus are extremely vulnerable in that kind of setting. Drivers need to take this law very seriously.”

Walbert said some buses are on the road daily during the summer for special programs. “We had 10 buses on the road today,” he said Monday.

“We try to minimize red-light stops during the summer because other drivers are probably not expecting them.”

Cumberland Police Lt. Steve Schellhaus said only one complaint about a bus-passing violation has been received in recent years.

“I attribute that to the grants that have put our officers in cruisers behind the buses,” Schellhaus said. “Fortunately, we have never had a kid struck (getting on or off a school bus) in the city.”

At settings such as Frederick Street, officers will sometimes sit and watch because of the large field of view, according to Schellhaus.

“I meet with school transportation people monthly,” he said. “That kind of cooperation allowed us to point out that a bus stop at Industrial Boulevard and Cedar was dangerous, so the school board relocated that stop to a safe place.”

The first day of school in Allegany County is Aug. 24.

Contact Michael A. Sawyers at msawyers@times-news.com.

More here.

Buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland? Call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! I take great pride in referrals, and I assure you, I will take great care of your friends, family & colleagues!

877-563-5350 – toll free