Franklin state police troopers and two school districts participated in the 22nd annual Operation Safe Stop Wednesday.
Four state troopers followed buses from Franklin and Cranberry school districts throughout their routes Wednesday morning for the yearly public awareness and enforcement effort. The initiative is a state-wide cooperative between law enforcement, school transportation providers and PennDOT to mark National School Bus Safety Week.
“I think that it’s good to call the awareness and I’m happy to be a part of it,” said Franklin trooper Michelle McGee, who followed a bus route herself.
The sheet has a space for the violator’s ID, license plate number, vehicle color, vehicle body type, the time the violation occurred and the approximate location. The data is sent back to PennDOT which encourages the drivers to file the information with local authorities as well.
McGee said that out of the four troopers actively following the buses, only one observed a violation. The infraction occurred on Pittsburgh Road in Franklin.
“Maybe drivers aren’t aware that they are required to stop if [a bus] is in the opposing traffic lane, but when there’s no physical barrier it’s still a requirement [to stop],” McGee said.
“It’s not just about enforcement, sometimes it’s about calling awareness to it,” McGee said. “We’ll never know what we may have prevented just by following the bus with a marked patrol vehicle. We maybe brought a little bit more awareness.”
Adding another facet to Operation Safe Stop, Franklin state police’s commercial vehicle safety division descended upon Cranberry School District’s motor pool before the buses went into service for the morning.
McGee said these types of spot checks aren’t a rare occurrence, but having troopers inspect the buses with a focus on interior safety measures before they hit their routes “should give that that extra little layer of protection.”
“You get a chance to just kind of wave to the parents at the bus stop, wave to the children waiting and just be there proactively trying to make sure that they’re safe,” McGee said.
McGee also wanted to remind drivers that school bus safety should always be a present thought on a daily commute.
“Whether it’s a dedicated day or not, just please be aware, be patient and realize that everyone involved students, officials, police want students to arrive and depart school safely,” she said. “Just take an extra moment and be aware and please wait and stop at least 10 feet before approaching a bus with the flashing red lights,” McGee said.
