August 13, 2002
CONTACT: SID GAULDEN, 803-896-8755
PUBLIC SAFETY, EDUCATION DEPARTMENTS KICK OFF
SCHOOL BUS SAFETY INITIATIVE
COLUMBIA - The South Carolina Department of Public Safety is working in conjunction with the South Carolina Department of Education to make riding a school bus safer for South Carolina’s children as they head back to the classroom.
The Highway Patrol begins an enforcement initiative statewide today as well as a public information campaign to educate motorists about the law and the penalties associated with passing a stopped school bus. The fine for passing a stopped school bus can be as much as $1,000 and up to 30 days in jail for a first offense.
“As governor and a parent, I have an on-going commitment to protecting our students,” said Gov. Jim Hodges. “That is a commitment that should be shared by everyone in South Carolina. We're all responsible for making sure our children arrive at school safe and ready to learn."
The Highway Patrol has worked with the Department of Education to identify problem areas in each Highway Patrol district. Enforcement will be based on the needs in those areas. The Highway Patrol will use several techniques to catch violators including putting troopers on selected buses to observe violations, troopers shadowing buses on their routes and use of special enforcement vehicles such as motorcycles and unmarked patrol cars.
The enforcement campaign will continue throughout the school year. In the 2001 - 2002 school year, eight children were struck at school bus stops, and two of those eight died as a result of their injuries. A nine-year-old girl died in October 2001 after being struck by a car as she was crossing the road to board her bus in Berkeley County. An 8-year-old girl died in April 2002 after being struck by a car as she was boarding her bus in Columbia.
“Our children are in the greatest danger - not as passengers on school buses - but as pedestrians,” said DPS Director B. Boykin Rose. “There is never an excuse for running past a stopped school bus and endangering our children. And we will not accept one.”
One of the campaign’s goals is to educate the public about when to stop for a school bus when it is loading and unloading children. The law mandates that a motorist stop for a stopped school bus under these conditions:
· if you are on a two-lane highway, travelling in either direction, you must stop.
· if you are on a multi-lane highway where opposing traffic is separated only by painted lines or by a narrow gravel median, you must stop if you’re travelling in either direction.
· when you are approaching a school bus on a divided highway where opposing traffic is separated by a grass median or a raised concrete median, the law requires you to stop only if you are travelling in the same direction as the bus. If you are travelling in the opposite direction of the bus, then you should simply slow down and pass with caution.
“Our goals for this campaign are simple: save children’s lives and significantly reduce injuries resulting from careless driving around school buses,” said State Education Superintendent Inez Tenenbaum. “We are calling on every parent, motorist, school bus driver and child to help us succeed in this effort.”
The South Carolina Department of Public Safety includes the Criminal Justice Academy, Division of Motor Vehicles, Highway Patrol, Office of Highway Safety, State Transport Police, Bureau of Protective Services and Office of Justice Programs. DPS has more than 2,600 employees in offices statewide. Our mission is to ensure public safety by protecting and serving the people of South Carolina and its visitors.
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