DPS Cracks Down On Bus Safety

AUSTIN, TX - With National School Bus Safety Week starting next week, the Texas Department of Public Safety urges drivers to comply with state law regarding school buses in Texas. Troopers will be extra vigilant this upcoming week in seeing how motorists interact with the buses.

According to Texas law, a driver, traveling in either direction, must stop when approaching a school bus that is stopped and operating a visual signal, said DPS.

The driver may not proceed until one of the following occurs: the school bus resumes motion; the operator is signaled by the bus driver to proceed; or the visual signal is no longer activated.

DPS officials said many motorists who fail to comply with this law. Between this year and 2015, Texas Highway Patrol have issued 1,093 tickets for vehicles passing a stopped school bus. Also, approximately 45 crashes occurred last year after vehicles failed to stop for a school bus and crashed into other motorists.

Officials said kid safety is a top priority for DPS considering there are over 42,000 school buses that transport close to 1.5 million kids daily during the school year.

“Any time a driver disregards a stopped school bus, they put children’s lives in danger,” DPS Director Steven McCraw said.“ DPS will not tolerate individuals who ignore the law, putting their own convenience before a child’s safety.”

During Safety Week, which runs from October 17 to October 21, DPS troopers will riding along with buses or patrolling drop off areas watching for drivers who violate the law. The fine for violating this statue could be up to $1,250.

The DPS would like to remind everyone of a couple of tips so they avoid breaking the law:

• If a road is divided only by a left-turning lane, drivers on both sides of the roadway must stop for school buses with alternating red flashing lights activated.
• If the lanes are separated by an intervening space or physical barrier, only motorists going in the same direction as the bus are required to stop.

“The safety of our schoolchildren is always a priority at the Texas Education Agency.” Texas Commissioner of Education Mike Morath said, “We appreciate the dedication by Texas Highway Patrol Troopers during National School Bus Safety week – and throughout the entire year – to help ensure our students have a safe trip to and from school.”