Connellsville observes Operation Safe Stop
Operation Safe Stop is being conducted in the Connellsville Area School District on Oct. 18, part of National School Bus Safety Week, being observed through Oct. 20.
“It’s been around a lot of years,” said Richard Evans, director of athletics and transportation for the Connellsville school district. “It amounts to a one-day, targeted effort where everybody in the area … is bringing a focus to people to follow the laws for school bus stops.”
A press release issued by Evans explained the school district will join with Connellsillve City Police, Pennsylvania State Police and PennDOT “to raise public awareness about the potential consequences and reduce the occurrence of illegal school bus passes.”
Pennsylvania’s School Bus Stopping Law, the release noted, “requires motorists to stop at least 10 feet away from school buses that have their red lights flashing and stop arm extended. Motorists must stop when they are behind the bus, meeting the bus or approaching an intersection where a bus is stopped. Motorists following or traveling alongside a school bus must also stop until the red lights have stopped flashing, the stop arm is withdrawn and all children have reached safety.”
Evans noted there is an exception: “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.”
Bus drivers are being told to be on the lookout for people not following the laws, getting a make and model or license plate of those who do not, Evans said.
“Police will be out in different spots, looking for situations where people are trying to run red lights of a school bus or pass where they shouldn’t,” Evans said, noting, “They would cite them appropriately.”
Evans remarked this is part of a statewide operation.
“It brings attention to the issue and how dangerous it can be for people not following the rules,” said Evans, adding, “If we can get a day to bring more attention to it, and the media puts out reminders to shine a light on the situation, it makes people reflect more than they normally would.”