As students head back to the classroom, the Decatur County
Traffic Safety Partnership (TSP) reminds motorists to stop for school buses or face the
consequences. Over the next couple of weeks, officers will be increasing patrols to
prevent stop-arm violations, speeding and other forms of reckless driving around school
buses and in school zones.
The Decatur County TSP joins more than 200 police agencies across the state for the
back-to-school Stop Arm Violation Enforcement campaign – better known as SAVE. The
overtime patrols are funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
through grants administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI).
“Our two biggest concerns this time of year are drivers not paying attention to the road
and speeding,” said Sheriff Dave Durant . “Most of the stop-arm violations we encounter
stem from those actions, and drivers need to be held accountable. Help us keep kids
safe by slowing down, putting away the distractions and stopping for buses.”
Despite thousands of motorists being cited under the SAVE program, unsafe driving
around school buses continues to be a concern, according to state officials.
In April, thousands of bus drivers who participated in a one-day observational survey
counted 2,041 stop-arm violations in Indiana. That one-day total, when multiplied by
the number of school days, adds up to a potential 367,380 violations throughout the
school year.
The newly released data comes from the National School Bus Illegal Passing Driver
Survey, which is managed by the Indiana Department of Education in the state. The
survey has been conducted annually since 2011 but was put on hold for the past two
years due to the pandemic.
This year, collection took place on April 26, with 6,665 bus drivers participating from 195
school districts.
“The fact that we still have people willing to put students and bus drivers at risk is the
reason this campaign is necessary,” said Devon McDonald, ICJI Executive Director. “Still,
law enforcement can’t be everywhere, so drivers need to do the right thing and exercise
caution around buses. Students’ lives depend on it.”
To prevent unsafe driving, officers will be conducting patrols in school zones and
following school busses along routes with reported stop-arm violations in the morning
and afternoon hours, as well as working to raise awareness about the importance of
school bus safety and following the law.
Drivers should slow down and prepare to stop when the overhead lights on a school bus
are flashing yellow. Once the lights turn red and the stop arm extends, drivers are
required to stop on all roads with one exception. On highways divided by a physical
barrier, such as a concrete wall or grassy median, only vehicles traveling in the same
direction as the school bus are required to stop.
Motorists should also be mindful of posted speed limits, avoid distractions and watch
for children in or near school and residential areas. Planning ahead and allowing for
extra time during each commute will help keep all road users safe.
Disregarding a school bus stop arm is a Class A Infraction. Violators could pay a fine of
up to $10,000, have their license suspended for up to 90 days for the first offense or up
to 1 year for the second.