Georgia targets school bus-rail crossing safety

ATLANTA — A new state law requires school districts to submit to the Department of Transportation (DOT) a list of railroad crossings that do not have active warning devices on school bus routes.

The law, which went into effect Jan. 1, mandates that districts submit the lists each year no later than Sept. 1.

In addition, districts must work to minimize the number of bus routes that include rail crossings without active warning devices, which are defined as automated control gates, lights and warning bells. In turn, the DOT will use the reported information to prioritize rail crossings for upgrades.

The DOT has created a form for school districts to use in making their reports. It can be accessed here.