Glen Cove Amps up Enforcements for School Bus Safety Week

The City of Glen Cove and the Glen Cove Police Department are cracking down on school bus safety and conducting a week-long series of activities in celebration of National School Bus Safety week.

The police department plans to increase their enforcement of Glen Cove’s top school bus driving spots this week to ensure school bus safety at Cedar Swamp Road, Glen Cove Avenue and Forest Avenue.

“We have had a number of complaints about drivers ignoring the flashing lights and stop sign arm extension on school buses and that poses a dangerous situation for our children when boarding and disembarking from their buses, “ Chief William Whitton said in a press release. “So far this year our police officers have issued a number of summonses to drivers for passing stopped school buses. That violation is punishable by fines ranging between $250 and $400 and up to thirty days in jail. In addition, drivers caught passing stopped school buses will also receive a mandatory 5 points against their driver’s license with repeated offenders receiving a mandatory one-year revocation of their license.”

Here are various School Bus Safety Week activities that are planned from Monday to Saturday:

• A public education and enforcement program will be held to remind children, parents and drivers about the importance of bus safety.
• Bus safety flyers will be distributed to school children in their virtual backpacks.
• In-school announcements will promote school bus safety during the week.

According to Deputy Chief Chris Ortiz, here are six critical tips for school bus safety:

• Children tend to assume that motorists will always see them; when drivers have a school bus in sight, always air on the side of caution - assume a child might run across the street at any moment. This visualization can be a strong reminder to drive safer by school buses.
• A stopped school bus with flashing lights means stop – no matter what side of the street you are driving on.
• When the school bus arrives at a bus stop children should stand at least 3 giant steps away from the edge of the road and always make sure the driver can see them when boarding the bus or crossing the street to get to their school bus.
• Parents should arrive at the bus stop five minutes before the bus’s scheduled arrival time and children should never run to or from the bus
• Know the name of your school bus driver, have the company’s phone number in your smart phone’s contact list and communicate proactively with the school district to report any concerns about bus transportation.
• Respect the work of school crossing guards as their jobs are to ensure the welfare of our children’s safe passage to school.