Huntington School Officials Urge
Bus Safety
As more than 2.3 million school children resumed their studies last week, safety was on the mind of on the folks that operate the 50,000 school buses that circle through neighbors and around towns to transport the students back and forth each day.
In the Huntington School District, thousands of students are transported to seven school buildings by the Huntington Coach Corp. The company has transported Huntington students since 1958 and it takes bus safety seriously.
The New York Association for Pupil Transportation is urging motorists to stop for stopped school buses. When a school bus comes to a stop and its red lights are flashing it means that it is either picking up or dropping off children. In either case, those red lights mean a motorist must stop. Section 1174 of the state's vehicle and traffic law requires a driver to stop.
"One of our most important charges is to do all that we can to ensure that children arrive to school and return home safely on our school buses," Huntington superintendent James W. Polansky said. "This must be a collaborative effort among Huntington Coach, district staff, parents, students and those driving within district boundaries. NYAPT's message regarding motorists stopping for school buses picking up or dropping off students is a critical component."
If the steep fines and points on a driver's license are not enough, potential violators of the "bus stop" law should remember that a child may be stepping down from that school bus or crossing the street in front of that school bus. When a driver decides "it's taking too long" and pass a school bus, a child could be struck, severely injured or even killed.
Drivers are being urged to consider that a child fatally injured by someone who didn't stop for a stopped school bus could be a family member, a friend of their child or a member of their church or neighborhood. "Their life is in your hands," stresses the New York Association for Pupil Transportation. "Our children trust you to do the right thing as a licensed motorist and stop for stopped school buses."
NYAPT estimates that on any given day more than 50,000 New York State motorists will pass a stopped school bus and endanger the life and welfare of a child. Motorists who fail to stop and are ticketed by police and convicted of violating New York VTL 1174 face a fine of up to $400 and up to 30 days in jail for a first offense. A second such conviction can result in a fine of $750 and the possibility of up to 180 days in jail. A third conviction can garner a $1,000 fine and sixth month jail sentence. Five points are added to the driving record of any motorist convicted of passing a stopped school bus.
NYAPT operates a joint effort with local law enforcement agencies called OPERATION SAFE STOP that targets high-incidence areas with the local police in an effort to ticket violators. This program has been operating since 1993 and has met with significant support from local police.