UPDATE (August 9, 2023):
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – As the summer break comes to an end, students across northeast Indiana are starting their return to school motorists should expect to see an increased amount of school bus traffic during the morning and afternoon commutes, and therefore should plan accordingly to allow for extra travel time each day.
Indiana State Police with the Fort Wayne Post released the following:
According to an April 2023 survey that focused on school bus stop arm violations, the Hoosier State experienced over two thousand daily incidents of stop arm violations (on average). That number is unacceptable and we must do a better job towards ensuring our children’s safety as they travel to and from school each day.
The Indiana State Police would like to remind all motorists of the rules of the road pertaining to school buses and when you are required to stop for a school bus:
When a school bus is stopping or stopped with the red lights flashing and stop arm extended…
When approaching the school bus from either direction on a two-lane road, motorists are required to STOP.
When approaching the school bus from any direction on a multiple lane highway where there is no barrier or median separating lanes of travel, motorists are required to STOP.
Motorists who are on a highway that is divided by a barrier, such as cable barrier, concrete wall, or grassy median, are required to
STOP only if they are traveling in the same direction as the school bus.
Regardless of your particular situation, when you see a school bus with or without lights flashing or the stop arm extended, that big yellow school bus should serve as a reminder that there are children in the immediate area.
Slow down, be patient, use caution, and always be prepared to stop. Please drive as if they were your own!!
The Indiana State Police is committed to the safety of our children and keeping Indiana’s roadways safe through educational programs and enforcement action.
*If you observe a school bus stop arm violation, please call 911 to report that incident, to include the suspect vehicle description, location, and the number of the school bus involved.
ORIGINAL STORY:
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (ADAMS) – As students head back to the classroom, state and local law enforcement agencies are reminding motorists to stop for school buses or face the consequences.
Over the next couple of weeks, officers will be increasing patrols to prevent stop-arm violations, speeding and other forms of reckless driving around school buses and in school zones.
More than 200 agencies are participating in the back-to-school Stop Arm Violation Enforcement campaign – better known as SAVE.
The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) released the following:
The overtime patrols are funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration through grants administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI).
Despite thousands of motorists being cited under the SAVE program, unsafe driving around school buses continues to be a concern, according to state officials.
In April, thousands of bus drivers who participated in a one-day observational survey counted 2,091 stop-arm violations in Indiana. That one-day total, when multiplied by the number of school days, adds up to a potential 376,380 violations throughout the school year.
“It is disheartening that we still have people who are willing to put the lives of students and bus drivers at risk,” said Devon McDonald, ICJI Executive Director. “Law enforcement cannot be everywhere, so it is up to drivers to do the right thing and exercise caution around school buses. Students’ lives depend on it.”
The data comes from the National School Bus Illegal Passing Driver Survey, which is managed by the Indiana Department of Education in the state. This year, data collection took place on April 25, with 6,665 bus drivers participating from 195 school districts.
To prevent unsafe driving, officers will use a range of enforcement strategies from high-visibility patrols to police spotters on buses. For each jurisdiction, officers will coordinate with local bus drivers and school transportation officials, with efforts concentrating in the morning and afternoon hours. Agencies will also be working to raise awareness about the importance of school bus safety and following the law.
Drivers should slow down and prepare to stop when the overhead lights on a school bus are flashing yellow. Once the lights turn red and the stop arm extends, drivers are required to stop on all roads with one exception. On highways divided by a physical barrier, such as a concrete wall or grassy median, only vehicles traveling in the same direction as the school bus are required to stop.
Motorists should also be mindful of posted speed limits, avoid distractions and watch for children in or near school and residential areas. Planning ahead and allowing for extra time during each commute will help keep all road users safe.
Disregarding a school bus stop arm is a Class A Infraction. Violators could pay a fine of up to $10,000, have their license suspended for up to 90 days for the first offense or up to 1 year for the second.
If the person disregarding a school bus stop arm causes bodily injury to a person, the offense becomes a Class 6 felony. Violators face anywhere from six months to two and a half years in jail. If someone is killed, the offense becomes a Class 5 felony, carrying a sentence between one year and six years.
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