Townships across Pa. take part in Operation Safe Stop

Both the Radnor Township School District and the Lower Merion School District, along with the police departments took part in Operation Safe Stop on Oct. 18. The idea is to promote safety for children who ride school buses by educating other drivers.

Cars that pass a stopped school bus when children are getting on or off are breaking the law and also endangering the children. Law enforcement agencies, school transportation providers, pupil transportation associations and PennDOT have combined their efforts to raise public awareness about the potential consequences, and reduce the occurrence of illegal school bus passes. Over the past 20 years, PennDOT, along with law enforcement agencies and pupil transportation associations, has conducted Operation Safe Stop. During this operation the bus drivers document any illegal passes that happen on their routes, getting identifying information to file with local police.

“We do this every year,” said John Hearn, director of transportation for RTSD. Drivers need to stop for school buses when the red lights flash, he said. Lancaster Avenue is a problem because not all drivers stop and that creates “a dangerous situation.”

“Vehicles are passing the bus so it’s a dangerous situation,” said Hearn. Sometimes people are not familiar with the law but other times they are just in a hurry, he said.

“All you have to do is google school bus accidents,” he said. “It happens constantly. Our drivers are very alert. They are very aware of what is going on. We stress that our drivers check their mirrors.” Another issue is motorists running red lights in the opposite direction as they approach a stopped bus, he said.

“It’s an issue,” said Hearn. “On Lancaster Avenue drivers coming toward a school bus can see it too late. It’s not okay to pass a school bus in opposite direction. All traffic around a school bus has to come to a complete stop.” school