CLARION CO., Pa. (EYT) — The Pennsylvania State Police and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation are teaming up once again for their annual Operation Safe Stop initiative.

On Wednesday, October 23, 2019, the 23rd annual Operation Safe Stop will be conducted in communities across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as part of National School Bus Safety Week, which runs from Monday, October 21, to Friday, October 25.

Operation Safe Stop is a public awareness and enforcement effort to educate the motoring public that passing a stopped school bus, when children are loading or unloading, is both dangerous and illegal.

Each year, through Operation Safe Stop, law enforcement agencies, school transportation providers, pupil transportation associations, and PennDOT have combined their efforts to raise public awareness about the potential consequences and to reduce the occurrence of illegal school bus passes.

Clarion Area School District, in partnership with Clarion Borough Police and Paul Brown Busing, will be participating in Operation Safe Stop this year. There will be police presence during the school bus routes in the morning and the afternoon, and officers will be on the look out for violators.

“I think it’s a wonderful program,” Chief William Peck, of the Clarion Borough Police Department, told exploreClarion.com.

“We do get reports from drivers of violations throughout the year. We follow up on those like any other complaint, and if there’s enough information, we file a citation, but Operation Safe Stop gave me the idea that we might do things like this on our own, outside of the day PennDOT has planned. We’re continuing periodic spot checks throughout the year.”

Authorities in surrounding counties are also participating, as follows:

Forest County: The Marienville-based State Police will be monitoring bus routes and checking for motorist in violation of the safety laws.

Jefferson County: According to Trooper Ronald Chewning, Community Services Officer for Pennsylvania State Police Troop C troopers will target bus routes in Jefferson County.

Jefferson County: Brookville Borough Police Chief Vince Markle noted that their department already has officers at the schools daily, and they will continue to watch the buses closely for any issues.

Venango County: Chief Kevin Anundson, of the Franklin Police Department, reported his department will be working with Franklin School District, as well as St. Patrick School, and checking on buses and bus routes throughout the area.

Venango County: Chief Bob Wenner, of the Sugarcreek Police Department, said his department will also be involved, and noted: “Whenever possible, when we have the manpower, we follow buses and check on them. It something we do here continually. We rotate our shifts when school is in session so we can cover that.”

Regarding Pennsylvania Law, Title 75, Section 3345 requires that motorists approaching a stopped school bus with a stop arm extended and red lights flashing shall stop at least 10 feet away from the school bus, whether approaching from behind or from the opposite direction. The driver of a vehicle approaching an intersection at which a school bus is stopped shall stop his vehicle at that intersection until the flashing red signal lights are no longer actuated. Upon conviction, the penalties for a violation of this section include a $250.00 fine, a 60-day driver’s license suspension, and 5 points on the motorist’s driving record.

According to PennDOT Initiative, Operation Safe Stop, “if physical barriers such as grassy medians, guide rails or concrete median barriers separate oncoming traffic from the bus, motorists in the opposing lanes may proceed without stopping.”

The safety of children is everyone’s responsibility. Parents and caregivers should take time to discuss the importance of school bus safety with their children, namely the potential dangers associated with other vehicles approaching a stopped school bus. PennDOT offers these safety tips to share with children:

• When waiting for the bus, stay away from traffic and line up at least five giant steps away from the curb or the roadway to wait for the bus
• 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 and never put your head, arms or hands out of the window
• Never cross the street behind the school bus
• Never speak to strangers at the bus stop and never get into a car with a stranger

For additional information regarding school bus safety including fact sheets, graphics, and more safety tips, please visit PennDOT’s school bus safety resource page.