CHP reports on tickets for school bus violators

As part of efforts to improve pedestrian safety, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) recently conducted a school bus pedestrian safety enforcement operation focusing on motorists who fail to stop for a school bus with its flashing red lights activated and stop arm extended (if equipped).

School bus safety is a key issue in our community, and the CHP is committed to upholding pedestrian safety laws to protect the public. On 3/28/18, a school bus pedestrian safety enforcement operation was conducted in unincorporated Santa Clara County focusing on motorists who fail to stop for a school bus with its red lights activated and stop arm extended (if equipped). As a result of this effort, 4 citations were issued, 1 verbal warning was issued and an untold number of motorists, parents and students were educated on the importance of school bus pedestrian safety.

The CHP strongly reminds motorists:

• When school bus red lights are flashing, there is no passing. Children are either entering or exiting the school bus when red lights are flashing. You must stop from either direction until the children have safely crossed the street and the lights stop flashing.
• Yellow flashing lights on a school bus warn you to slow down and prepare to stop.
• Be alert and do not be distracted when children are standing at a school bus stop.

  Children are often unpredictable and may dart out in front of traffic, not recognizing traffic hazards or risk.

  Parents are an important part of traffic safety education. Children need to learn to be safe pedestrians as they walk to and from school and the school bus. Here are tips to keep your student safe:

•  Arrive at the bus stop at least five minutes early and stand 10 feet away from the road
•  Do not let your child play running games, or push, or shove at the bus stop.

• If your child drops something near the bus, warn them to never, ever, pick it up. Instead, your child should tell the bus driver and wait for assistance to pick-up the dropped object. If a child bends over to pick-up a dropped object, they might not be seen by the bus driver and could be struck by the bus.
• Remind children to look to the right before they step off the bus. Drivers sometimes try to pass buses on the right.
• If children must cross the street to get to the bus, remind them to wait for the bus driver to signal that it is safe to cross. Do not get on or off the school bus until the bus driver says it is safe to do so. If you miss the bus, do not run after it.
• When walking, practice good pedestrian behavior and walk on the sidewalk, if there is one. If there is no sidewalk, walk single file, facing traffic and stay on the shoulder as far off the road as possible.
•  Before crossing the street: stop, look left, right and then left again. Cross at crosswalks, corners or intersections wherever possible. This is where drivers expect to see pedestrians.

  The CHP is committed to doing our part to keep the community safe. We urge every member of the community to be safe and follow the rules of the road. Remember, pedestrians don’t have armor! Traffic safety is everyone’s responsibility. For additional information, please contact the CHP Hollister-Gilroy Area office’s Public Information Officer Chris Miceli at (408)848-2324.

  Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.