WBOY.com: Clarksburg, Morgantown: News, Sports, WeatherDrivers Illegally Passing Stopped School Buses on the Rise

It's a growing concern here and across the country.

Drivers who put children's lives at risk by passing school buses illegally.

Stopped school buses or called also stop arm violations are when motorists illegally pass a bus putting students at risk of serious injury.

Officials said those numbers are on the rise.

"There not being observant, their not aware of their surroundings, I don't know if cell phone usage is a problem or texting could be a problem."

Randolph County Schools Transportation Director Randy Long said school systems all over West Virginia are addressing the issue of stop arm violations involving drivers and school buses. A recent survey of county transportation directors in the state found those violations to be exceedingly high.

More than 600 drivers illegally passed a stopped bus. It's estimated that the state will exceed 90,000 per year, and the number of right side passes will exceed the national average.

"There's a high number of people pass the bus on the right, and we're very concerned about that. Very concerned about the students safety and welfare, and it puts the student at great risk when people do that," Long said.

Long and other county transportation directors agree that the numbers would diminish if drivers would follow some basic rules.

Some examples the National Traffic Safety Administration asks motorists to follow: Slow down, watch for children playing or congregating near bus stops. Be alert, children arriving late for the bus may dart into the street without looking for traffic. Learn and obey school bus laws in your state.

"When you see the amber lights come on that bus is getting ready to make that stop, when you see those red lights come on they mean stop, and with their help we could improve this and get this total down dramatically," Long said.

Randolph County reported in one day seven stop arm violations. Long said that's too many. The school system is planning an active school bus safety program for students and parents on March 27.