School Bus Violations Down 20% In Bensalem

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA —With the Bensalem School Bus Safety Stop Arm Program now having a year under its belt, police and officials are seeking a further reduction in violations in the program's second year.

Since the program began on Aug. 29, 2022, police said that they have issued 5,563 civil violations to owners of vehicles that have failed to stop for school bus stop arms and red lights.

That amounts to an average of 30 citations a day, according to police statistics provided to Patch by Sgt. Glenn Vandegrift.

During the first 80 days of the 2022-2023 school year, police said that 3,091 citations were issued (an average of 34 a day).

But during the second half of the school year, 2,472 citations were issued (an average of 27 a day), marking a 20 percent decrease from the first half, Vandegrift said.

"We view it as a very successful program," Public Safety Director Bill McVey said. "Our goal is to change driver behavior with enforcement and education."

School buses are equipped with stop-arm enforcement cameras designed to detect vehicles that illegally pass stopped school buses, police and school officials announced.

McVey said the results of the program's effectiveness were apparent once the police department said in late February that it would crack down further on school bus violators.

At that time, police said that if an officer stops and issues a state citation for the violation, motorists would be subject to 5 points on a driver's license, a 60-day driver's license suspension, and a $300 fine upon conviction.

Vandegrift said police and the Bensalem Township School District are still "very concerned" about the number of violations that are happening on a daily basis.

He said the program with continue through the 2023-2024 school year, which began last week.

"We implore drivers to stop for the flashing red signals on school buses to keep our children safe. If they fail to do so, they are subject to a $300 civil fine," he said. "If they fail to respond to the civil violation notice, the matter will be turned over to a collection agency.

Councilwoman Stacey Champion said the program is yet another way of showing the township's commitment to safety, especially for children.

"I am very proud to support this combined effort between the Bensalem Police Department and Bensalem School District to proactively protect our kids in something that many of us take for granted —getting on a school bus safely," Councilwoman Stacey Champion said.