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W. Virginia school district trying extended stop arm on school bus

Since it added the extended arm, Mineral County Schools has seen a significant drop in the number of drivers illegally passing stopped school buses.

WEST VIRGINIA, USA — It happens every day across the country. Drivers pass school buses that are stopped to pick up and drop of children.

It's an issue we covered in our #Brake4Buses show at the start of the school year, showing, Minnesota is no stranger to the problem. Different communities have different ways of tackling the problem.

In one community in West Virginia, it's using an extended stop arm to try and alert drivers that children are about to get on or off a school bus.

John Droppelman, of Mineral County Schools says the district added an extended stop arm this Fall. The arm extends about five feet into the road, and had flashing red lights and two stop signs on it.

Droppelman says before the sign was put on the bus, bus drivers saw violators about every week. But since the sign was added, drivers have seen a significant improvement.

RELATED: Eagan's 'Busted by the Bus' sting nabs bad drivers

We asked if Minnesota plans to use these arms, and according to the State Patrol, it is aware of the arms, but has no plans to use them at this time.

RELATED: Seat belts added to buses in one east metro school district

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