Fort Drum law enforcement joins Operation Safe Stop effort

By Melody Everly, Fort Drum Garrison Public AffairsApril 14, 2016

Fort Drum law enforcement joins Operation Safe Stop effort
The goal of Operation Safe Stop is to proactively educate motorists about the dangers of passing stopped school buses. Yellow lights mean the bus is going to stop, and motorists should slow down. Red lights indicate that students are getting on or of... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT DRUM, N.Y. (April 14, 2016) -- Motorists know that the sight of flashing yellow or red lights means a school bus is approaching. Many people find the stop-and-go traffic frustrating, continually watching the clock to make sure they are on time to drop their children off at school or day care, to be on time for physical training, or to make sure they are not late for a big meeting at work.

No matter the reason, passing a stopped school bus, whether from the front or from the rear of the vehicle is illegal, punishable with hefty fines and the possibility of jail time. It is also extremely dangerous for those getting on or off the bus, the bus driver and children inside the bus, and even for the motorist who is passing the stopped bus.

To promote school bus safety through education and law enforcement efforts, Fort Drum officials will participate in New York state's "Operation Safe Stop" on April 21. On this date, some police officers will ride on the buses with students, while others -- in both marked and unmarked vehicles -- will be on the lookout for motorists not abiding by state laws.

Aside from the legal repercussions of disobeying bus safety laws, motorists who do not follow the rules pose a significant danger to bus riders.

An estimated 50,000 motorists in New York state pass stopped school buses every day, and last year, 35 students were injured as a result.

When a driver encounters a school bus with flashing yellow lights, it is an indication that the bus will soon stop. It is important that drivers pay attention to these yellow lights and maintain a safe distance from the school bus, said Lt. Richard Mushtare, traffic investigations officer in charge at Fort Drum.

"School buses make frequent stops," he said. "As some of these stops -- at railway crossings, private dwellings and bus stops -- are not necessarily going to be anticipated by you, your ability to react can be severely impacted."

Mushtare also said that adverse weather conditions can decreased a motorist's ability to react quickly.

When a school bus has come to a complete stop, red lights will flash. New York state law dictates that motorists always stop for flashing red lights -- even on divided and multilane highways -- a fact that Mushtare said all motorists need to know.

"Traffic approaching from either direction must stop," he said. "This applies to all roadways in New York state. Children often walk unpredictably as they (enter or exit) the school bus."

The goal of "Operation Safe Stop" is to remind motorists to think before making a decision that could impact their lives and the lives of others.

"Most injuries and deaths occur when children are off the bus," Mushtare said. "That school bus could be carrying your neighbor's child or a Family Member. The safety of the child is paramount."

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