District Conducts Operation Safe Stop on Oct. 21, 2015

Hatboro-Horsham School District buses travel more than 570,000 miles each school year and safely transport thousands of students. Bus drivers are committed to passenger safety, but the motoring public must also be aware of their responsibilities.

Operation Safe Stop, an annual event sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) during National School Bus Safety Week, aims to reduce illegal school bus passes through public education. The District will conduct Operation Safe Stop on October 21, 2015. Hatboro Borough and Horsham Township police will follow select buses on their routes and all bus drivers will be on the lookout for illegal passes. As allowed by law, bus drivers can obtain license plate numbers and file the information with local authorities. Trouble spots and routes or stops with a high frequency of violations will be identified for future action.

Pennsylvania’s School Bus Stopping Law clearly spells out the responsibilities of motorists. Motorists should familiarize themselves with the law, which states that drivers MUST:

• STOP when meeting or overtaking a stopped school bus with red signal lights flashing and stop arm extended.
• STOP when approaching an intersection where a school bus is stopped with red lights flashing and arm extended.
• STOP at least 10 feet from the school bus.
• REMAIN STOPPED until the red lights have stopped flashing and the stop arm has been withdrawn before moving.
• REMAIN STOPPED until all children have reached a place of safety.

Furthermore, motorists encountering a school bus with red signal lights MUST:

• STOP on roadways with painted lines, regardless of whether the bus is travelling in the opposite direction.
• STOP when approaching an intersection…this includes all drivers at the intersection.
• STOP on roadways with ridged/grooved dividers.

Motorists who are convicted can expect to receive potential life-changing penalties, including: a 60-day license suspension, a $250 fine and five points on their driving record.

District bus drivers report that many motorists do not have a good grasp of the School Bus Stopping Law. Failure to understand and comply with the law can have deadly consequences.
“We all play a role in creating a safe environment for our children,” said Hatboro-Horsham School District Safety Director Rick Kerrigan. “Operation Safe Stop is an effective way to get good information to the public, change behavior and ultimately, ensure our students are safe as they travel to and from school.”

For more information about the Pennsylvania School Bus Stopping Law visit http://www.dmv.state.pa.us.