Police, schools work together to promote bus, traffic safety
By Lauren Parker- Gill, News Editor, The Times
Operation Safe Stop, in conjunction with National School Bus Safety Week, took place Wednesday with the Coatesville Police Department and Krapf Bus Company. From left to right: Lori Aguilera, Director of the Chester County Highway Safety Project, Danyel Stutzman, bus driver with Krapf, Stephanie Mitchell, operations manager with Krapf, Lt. James Audette, Sgt. Rodger Ollis, Officer Robert Kuech with the Coatesville PD and Sue Liskey, safety officer with Krapf.
COATESVILLE – If you have noticed police cars following school buses or stationed at bus stops throughout the area recently, it’s because this is National School Bus Safety week and local and state police departments joined Krapf Bus Company to participate in Operation Safe Stop, which took place Wednesday.
Operation Safe Stop began as an effort to educate and inform motorists of the laws involving school buses. Passing or going around a bus with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended is dangerous to children boarding and deboarding the bus and is, in fact, against the law.
“Bus drivers, police and the public all need to work together to keep students safe as they get on and off their buses,” stated Officer Rob Kuech of the Coatesville Police Department, who followed bus 109 for Coatesville Area Senior High School Wednesday afternoon. “The bus drivers need to give adequate notice with their yellow lights, cars need to slow down when they see yellow, stop when the lights are red and the police will issue violations to those who do not follow the law.”
Sue Liskey, a safety officer with Krapf, worked with the police departments to organize Operation Safe Stop in Chester County and said that in addition to the Coatesville Police Department, Pennsylvania State Troopers also participated in West Chester, Downingtown and Twin Valley school districts.
“It went very, very well…there was a positive response from the students and it has been well received throughout the county.” Liskey stated.
Sgt. Rodger Ollis, with the Coatesville Police Department, rode the bus with students in the morning and the afternoon and while doing so, spoke to them about the program.
“The students on the buses showed interest and had many questions about the program. We appreciate Krapf’s busing for giving us the opportunity to partner with them,” said Ollis.
Ollis went on to say that Operation Safe Stop was a great opportunity to view the roadway from the bus driver’s perspective, especially when approaching students’ designated bus stops and reported that there were no violations from motorists that day.
For more information on school bus safety and Pennsylvania state laws involving school buses, please visit Pennsylvania’s School Bus Stopping Law page
