The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office is reminding drivers that they must stop for school buses with flashing red lights as law enforcement agencies prepare for Operation Safe Stop on Wednesday, Oct. 21.
The statewide education and enforcement campaign falls during National School Bus Safety Week, which runs Oct. 19-23. Operation Safe Stop is intended to deter drivers from illegally passing stopped school buses and reinforce the rules that protect children getting on and off buses.
New York law requires drivers approaching a stopped school bus from either direction to come to a full stop when its red lights are flashing. The requirement applies on multilane and divided highways as well as other roads. Drivers must remain stopped until the bus begins moving again or they are directed to proceed by the bus driver or a police officer.
The sheriff’s office said an estimated 50,000 motorists illegally pass school buses in New York each school day. The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee has cited the same estimate based on surveys conducted with the New York Association for Pupil Transportation.
Five license points possible for a first violation
A first conviction for illegally passing a stopped school bus carries a fine of $250 to $400, five points on a driver’s license and the possibility of up to 30 days in jail, according to the sheriff’s office. Penalties increase for repeat violations.
Drivers should slow down when a school bus activates its yellow warning lights and be prepared to stop. Once the red lights begin flashing, traffic must stop before reaching the bus, including vehicles traveling in the opposite direction.
Operation Safe Stop is supported by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, the state Education Department, pupil transportation organizations and state and local law enforcement agencies.
The Wayne County reminder follows a broader back-to-school safety message issued earlier this month by law enforcement agencies in Wayne and Ontario counties. The Oct. 21 campaign adds a specific statewide enforcement and education day focused on illegal passing.
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