Operation Safe Stop Set For April 13

On Thursday, April 13, Newtown will join towns and cities across Connecticut in Operation Safe Stop, an education and enforcement campaign to alert the motoring public to the dangers of passing stopped school buses picking up or discharging students. On that day, police officers, state troopers, and motor vehicle inspectors will target selected school bus routes and school bus stops for concentrated enforcement of the school bus stop law.

We are working with school officials and the police department to coordinate the program in Newtown. Working from a list of trouble spots, areas with a high incidence of violation, officers will stake out bus stops and ticket motorists who pass school buses with their red lights flashing. The fine for violating the school bus stop law is $450 for a first offense.

We transport 4,500 students to and from Newtown schools every day. That provides 18,000 opportunities each day for a child to be hit by a motorist passing a stopped school bus either on the road or at school. It is only due to our alert school bus drivers that we have not had a tragedy in Newtown.

State law requires that motorists approaching or following a school bus stop at least ten feet from the bus whenever the alternating red lights are flashing.