Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Officials conduct Operation ‘Safe Stop’
West Chester Area School District, local police departments conduct event to educate motorists, students during National School Bus Safety Week
As part of National School Bus Safety Week, local officials participated in Operation “Safe Stop.”
As part of National School Bus Safety Week, the West Chester Area School District and area police departments participated in Operation “Safe Stop” to educate motorists that passing a stopped school bus is dangerous and illegal.
Laurie Aguilara, a representative of the Highway and Safety Department of PennDOT and the Chester County District Attorney’s Office, said motorists behind or alongside a school bus must also stop until the red lights have stopped flashing, the stop arm is withdrawn, and all children have reached safety.
While waiting for her children’s bus Wednesday morning, West Whiteland resident Teresa Schellhammer talked about problems her children have had at their bus stop on West Boot Road. Even with the school bus lights flashing, cars have passed the bus as it has picked up students, she said. Parents often stand in the street trying to get traffic to stop to allow their children to cross safely, she said.
“It wasn’t safe,” said her 8-year-old daughter Emily Schellhammer.
To help solve the problem, school officials moved the stop across the road so students didn’t have to cross the road to get on the bus.
“Cars passing buses is a major problem,” said West Chester Area School District Transportation Manager Joanne Yarnall. “It happens everywhere. Everybody is in such a hurry.”
On Wednesday morning, West Whiteland Police Detective Jeff McCloskey and Aguilara rode the school bus to Mary C. Howse Elementary School. They talked to students about school bus safety and reminded them to sit in their assigned seats and listen to the driver. When getting on the bus, it’s important to walk at least 10 feet in front of the school bus so that the
driver can see the person, said Aguilara.
During the trip, a second West Whiteland police officer followed the bus and prepared to stop any motorist passing the bus illegally. The number of convictions for breaking Pennsylvania’s Bus Stopping Law is 701 for 2015 — up from 618 in 2014. If convicted, a motorist faces a $250 fine, five points on their driving record and a 60-day license suspension.
No motorists were stopped during the bus ride Wednesday morning.
Once at school, Aguilara and McCloskey passed out information and pencils to remind students to stay alert.
There are over 31,500 school buses in Pennsylvania.