Press Release - 10-17-2022

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Monday, October 17, 2022 

DMV, GTSC REMIND DRIVERS TO STOP FOR SCHOOL BUSES DURING NATIONAL SCHOOL BUS SAFETY WEEK 

October 17-21 is National School Bus Safety Week 

During National School Bus Safety Week, the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) are reminding motorists to stop and wait whenever they encounter a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing and “stop” sign extended.  Drivers who pass a stopped school bus illegally could be ticketed and face fines and other penalties. Motorists should also watch for students as they walk or bike to school and always follow the posted speed limits. 

“School buses are the safest way to transport students to and from school,” said GTSC Chair and DMV Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder. “Parents and caregivers should feel confident that every child will be safe getting on and off the school bus. New York State has a zero-tolerance policy for anyone that passes a stopped school bus. We count on drivers to do the right thing and keep children safe by stopping and waiting.”

Motorists must always stop for school buses when the red lights are flashing, including buses on the opposite sides of divided highways, on multiple lane roadways, in parking lots and on school grounds. The fine for passing a stopped school bus ranges from a minimum of $250 for a first violation to a maximum of $1,000 for three violations in three years. Jail time is up to 30 days for a first violation and up to 180 days for a second and third violation in three years.  If you are convicted of three of these violations in three years, your driver license will be revoked for a minimum of six months. Conviction of unlawfully passing a school bus while it’s stopped to get or let off passengers will result in five points on a driver license in addition to the penalty imposed by the court.

According to the New York Association for Pupil Transportation (NYAPT) it is estimated that 50,000 motorists pass stopped school buses with red lights flashing statewide each school day. To address the problem, NYAPT and GTSC support “Operation Safe Stop,” a one-day enforcement effort in which police officers patrol selected bus routes where there is a history of illegal passing complaints. They issue tickets to drivers who pass stopped buses. The Operation Safe Stop initiative is also supported by the New York State Education Department, the New York State School Bus Contractors Association, the student transportation industry and state and local law enforcement agencies. 

DMV and GTSC also encourage parents to discuss school bus safety with their children, including teaching them to always look both ways when crossing the street and to look to the right when they step off a bus. Parents who meet their children at the bus stop after school should wait on the side where the child will be dropped off, not across the street. 

To learn more about the NYS DMV, visit dmv.ny.gov, or follow the DMV conversation online at Facebook and Twitter

For more information about GTSC, visit safeny.ny.gov, or follow the GTSC conversation at Facebook and Twitter

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