CLEARFIELD – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation(PennDOT), Senator Wayne Langerholc, Jr. (R-35) and the Highway Safety Network (HSN) celebrated “Love the Bus,” a program highlighting the importance of school bus drivers in education, at Clearfield Elementary School earlier Thursday.
“Securing a safe environment for our children is the responsibility of every Pennsylvanian, including school bus stopping zones on our roadways,” said Senator Langerholc, chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee. “School bus drivers are essential, and today’s event spotlights their critical roles to safely transport our children to and from school every day.”
Motorists meeting or overtaking a stopped bus or approaching an intersection with a stopped bus must stop until the red lights have stopped flashing, the bus driver withdraws the stop arm and all children have reached safety. If a physical barrier such as a grassy median, guide rail, or concrete median separates oncoming traffic from the bus, motorists in the opposing lanes may proceed without stopping.
Langerholc said drivers are illegally passing school buses with extended stop arms and red lights flashing. He reminded motorists that the Commonwealth has strong deterrents to preserve school bus safety, including Act 19 of 2023 that reinforces the automated enforcement of meeting or overtaking a stopped school bus in certain school districts with a civil penalty. In addition, drivers caught by police passing a stopped school bus with their red lights flashing and stop arm extended may face steeper fines and penalties.
During the program, first-grade students at the elementary school received valentines to give their bus drivers along with a School Bus Safety Activity Book published by PennDOT. HSN Community Traffic Safety Program Coordinator Josh Woods and PennDOT Press Officer Timothy Nebgen gave them tips for staying safe while on or near a bus:
- Get to the school bus stop five minutes early so you won’t have to run across the road to catch the bus.
- When waiting for the bus, stay away from traffic and line up at least five giant steps away from the curb.
- Never run after the school bus if it has already left the bus stop.
- Never push when getting on or off the school bus.
- Always walk at least 10 feet in front of the bus when crossing so that the school bus driver can see you.
- When the school bus is moving, always stay in your seat. Never put your head, arms, or hands out the window.
- Never play with the emergency exits. Backpacks, band instruments, or sports equipment may not block the aisle or emergency exits. If there is an emergency, listen to the driver and follow instructions.
- Never cross the street behind the school bus.
For more information on school bus safety, visit http://www.penndot.pa.gov/safety.
For regional traffic updates, follow www.twitter.com/511PAStateCOLL.