FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 7, 2006

Contact: SID GAULDEN, 803-896-8409

 

SCDPS REMINDS MOTORISTS: IT’S BACK TO SCHOOL TIME;

HIGHWAY PATROL BEGINS ENFORCEMENT IN SCHOOL ZONES, ALONG BUS ROUTES

 

COLUMBIA – The South Carolina Department of Public Safety is beginning an intensive back-to-school combined enforcement effort and public education program to help make the transition back to school a safe one for children and motorists.

 

The Highway Patrol is working closely with the SC Department of Education to identify bus routes where problems have been reported by bus drivers or citizens regarding motorists driving dangerously around school buses. The Highway Patrol will begin enforcement to correspond with school start dates.

 

“Getting our children back to school safely is priority one,” said SCDPS James K. Schweitzer. “It is imperative that we drive these safety messages home in those first weeks of school when everyone is getting re-acclimated to pedestrian and bus activity.”

 

SCDPS reminds motorists when to stop for a school bus: Under the current law, children no longer cross multi-lane highways to board buses. Correspondingly, the law no longer requires drivers on a highway with two or more lanes on each side to stop when traveling in the opposing direction of the bus. Drivers traveling behind a bus must always stop when the bus activates its stop arm.

 

When does a driver stop for a school bus (see attached poster for illustration)? 

• Motorists must always stop when they are traveling behind a bus with flashing amber or red lights.
• When motorists are approaching a stopped school bus with flashing red lights from the opposite direction, drivers must stop if they are on a two-lane road.
• If motorists are on a four-lane (or more) highway or private road and meet a stopped school bus, they do not have to stop. However, drivers should slow down and proceed with caution.

 

After stopping for a stopped school bus, drivers must not proceed until the bus resumes motion or the flashing red lights have been turned off.  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.

 

The Highway Patrol will work in conjunction with local law enforcement agencies to increase the law enforcement presence using unmarked and marked vehicles and motor units to monitor aggressive driving, speeding and will be on the lookout for motorists passing stopped school buses.

 

The department will launch a multi-faceted public education campaign to correspond with enforcement focusing on:

 

n      School pick-up lines: Troopers and Families of Highway Fatalities volunteers will distribute safety information to parents and guardians at select schools as they are waiting in line to pick up their children in the afternoons (media: contact your local CRO for information about specific locations in your area).

n      PTA meetings: Troopers will attend PTA/PTO meetings to talk to parents about bicycle and pedestrian safety concerns and educate about booster seat use.

n      Mass distribution of safety literature: The Office of Highway Safety has mailed safety information regarding pedestrians, bicyclists, and school bus information to schools, requesting teachers send home to students’ parents and incorporate into their curriculums.

n      School presentations: Troopers will be visiting Driver’s Education classes, elementary and middle schools to conduct formal safety presentations.

 

Schools interested in any of the programs listed here may contact the Highway Patrol Community Relations Office for more information at 803-896-7920.

 

Media: media advisories on individual events/media opportunities will be sent to the corresponding media market.