Abington School District and the Abington Township Police Department participate in Operation Safe Stop

Abington School District and the Abington Township Police Department will participate in “Operation Safe Stop” to create higher public awareness about bus safety among motorists.

Abington School District and the Abington Township Police Department will participate in “Operation Safe Stop,” a school bus safety public awareness campaign, on Wednesday, October 18, 2017 with bus drivers monitoring, documenting, and reporting illegal passes by motorists to participating Abington Police officers and PennDOT.

Operation Safe Stop is a proactive approach to educate motorists and the public that passing a stopped school bus when children are loading or unloading is both dangerous and illegal. Law enforcement agencies, school transportation providers, student transportation associations, and PennDOT have combined efforts to raise public awareness about the possible consequences and reduce the occurrence of dangerous, illegal school bus passing.

Abington School District and the Abington Police Department remind the public that Pennsylvania’s School Bus Stopping Law requires that motorists stop in the following situations:

• When meeting or overtaking a stopped school bus with red signal 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 must stop at least ten feet away from the school bus and wait until the red lights have stopped flashing and the stop arm has been withdrawn before moving.
• Until all children have reached a place of safety, motorists must remain stopped.

 Abington School District and Abington Police have issued the following guidelines to assist parents and students stay safe:

• 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. 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 of 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.
• Be aware – Cross with Care! Wait until the school bus has stopped all traffic before stepping out onto the road.
• When the school bus is moving, always stay in your seat. Never put your head, arms or hands out of the window.
• Talk quietly; do not distract your school bus driver.
• If your school bus crosses railroad tracks, be calm and quiet so that your driver can listen for a train. Always obey your school bus driver’s instructions, so that he or she can make safe decisions.
• 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.
• When getting off the school bus, be sure that all drawstrings and other loose objects are secure so that they don’t get caught on the handrail or the door.
• Never cross the street behind the school bus.
• If you leave something on the bus or drop something outside of the bus, never go back for it. The driver may not see you and begin moving the bus.
• Never speak to strangers at the bus stop and never get into the car with a stranger.