Operation Safe Stop
BINGHAMTON, NY - On Thursday, October 14, 2004, local law enforcement in conjunction with the Binghamton, Johnson City, Union Endicott and Vestal School Districts and the Broome County Traffic Safety Board will participate in Operation Safe Stop. Operation Safe Stop is a statewide education and enforcement campaign sponsored by the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee aimed at raising public awareness of the dangers of passing a stopped school bus when children are loading or unloading.
"If a school bus has it's red lights flashing, it means students are getting on or off the bus and motorists are required to stop by law," states Lucas Davis, Traffic Safety Coordinator for the Broome County Health Department. This law applies to vehicles on public roadways, including divided and multi-lane highways, as well as on school property.
During Operation Safe Stop local law enforcement officers will be looking for motorists who violate section 1174 of New York State Vehicle & Traffic Law, which requires vehicles in all lanes and in both directions to stop when the red lights of a school bus are flashing. The consequences of violating this law include a fine ranging from $250 - $1000, points on your driver's license, and/or possible imprisonment. "A far greater consequence," warns Davis, "would be to strike, injure or kill a child."
Each day in New York State an estimated 50,000 motorists pass school buses illegally. In the last five years there have been 35 incidents of students being hit by motorists, and two were killed. All incidents were the result of motorists passing a stopped school bus.
Through education and enforcement efforts, local law enforcement in partnership with local school officials and the Broome County Traffic Safety Board will continue to make school bus safety a priority in Broome County. For more information on Operation Safe Stop, or other traffic safety related issues, contact Lucas Davis at the Broome County Health Department at 607.778.2807 or visit the Broome County Health Department website at www.gobroomecounty.com/hd/.
CONTACT:
Lucas Davis, Traffic Safety Coordinator
Broome County Health Department: 607.778.2807
email: lddavis@co.broome.ny.us
Jennifer Lesko, Supervising Public Health Educator
Broome County Health Department: 607.778.3927
email: jlesko@co.broome.ny.us
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