October 16th – 20th is School Bus Safety Week

Mary Alice Reporting –

This week is a reminder to not pass a stopped school bus and to use caution in school zones.

National School Bus Safety Week is observed from October 16^th to the 20^th and the Ohio State Highway Patrol will increase enforcement efforts.

Among the actions taken is ensuring motorists are obeying the lights and stop signs of a school bus. Before coming to a stop, school buses display a yellow flashing light and once completely stopped, red lights flash and a stop sign is extended to oncoming traffic.

Motorists approaching, from either direction, must stop moving at least 10 feet from the bus, says Ohio State Highway Patrol New Philadelphia Post Sgt. Jen Makrus.

“Troopers have written more than 16,000 citations for passing a stopped school bus and other school zone violations statewide, but we do regularly receive complaints here at the New Philadelphia Post from school bus drivers and we do look into every complaint.”

For school zone incidents, Sgt. Makrus explains they are keeping an eye out for speeding violations.

“The school zones that have flashing yellow lights indicating it’s the current time of the school zone but some other school zones they will only have a sign posted that indicates the hours of the reduced speed in the zone. Either one is a valid display to motorists.”

Statewide numbers show that there have been almost 6,300 school bus-related traffic crashes since 2018, and of those, there were almost 2,000 injuries and eight fatalities.

In addition, OSP conducts inspections twice a year on every operating school bus.