Main Line Police, School District Cracking Down On Bus Passing Next Week

On the Main Line, one police department and one school district are teaming up to crack down on drivers who illegally and unsafely pass stopped school buses next week.

Passing a stopped school bus is extremely dangerous. With kids piling on and off buses at least twice daily, illegally passing a stopped bus can end in terrible tragedy in the worst cases.

That's why the Radnor Township Police Department and Radnor Township School District are yet again teaming up to raise awareness of the dangers of passing stopped buses, and to hold those who pass stopped buses accountable.

Wednesday, Oct. 18 will mark the 21st annual Operation Safe Stop, led by the district’s Director of Transportation John Hearn, when school bus drivers will be on the lookout for vehicles illegally passing their buses, the district said.

When possible, the drivers will relay a violator’s information to the police so a citation can be issued, according to the district.

Hearn will also send the gathered information to Harrisburg so it can be included in a school bus safety report, the district said.

The district said Operation Safe Stop in Randor usually results in two to three violations, which officials said is a significant number when extrapolated throughout the 181-day school year.

In accordance with Pennsylvania law, drivers must stop at least 10 feet from school buses that have their stop arms extended and red stop lights flashing. Vehicles driving next to a bus must also stop until the arm has been retracted and lights turned off.

Drivers must stop regardless of direction, whether they are in the same directions as the bus or the opposite direction, according to state law. If physical barriers such as grassy medians, guide rails or concrete median barriers separate oncoming traffic from the bus, drivers in the opposing lanes may proceed without stopping, the district aid.

Operation Safe Stop is part of National School Bus Safety Week, Oct. 16 through Oct. 20.

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