The measure has become necessary, because a number of drivers are ignoring buses that have stopped to load or unload children. Some motorists travel by or around stopped buses.

“We have received so many complaints about cars not stopping for school buses that we have been sending deputies to follow the buses,” said Capt. Steven Jones, Thomas County Sheriff’s Office public information officer and Thomas County School System school resource officer coordinator. “Almost all of the complaints have been inside the city limits of Thomasville.”

Jones said that when a school bus prepares to stop and unload, it turns on yellow lights. When the bus stops, it shows a stop sign and flashes red.

“All traffic in both directions is required to stop — in both directions,” Jones said. “The only exception is on a road with a grass or physical median.”

Smith Avenue and Jackson Street are examples of roads that traffic in both directions must stop. The sheriff’s office is receiving complaints about vehicles not stopping for school buses on the city thoroughfares.

Citations have been issued for the violations, and Jones said more people will be cited.