Pittsburgh Police Focus on Safety of School Children in Transit

The City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Police will be conducting a two-week proactive “Back-to-School Highway Safety Initiative” to help ensure children make it to and from school in a safe manner.

Motorcycle officers and traffic officers will be out in full force to help ensure motorists obey the 15-mph school zone speed and properly stop for school buses using red flashing lights.

“Our message is simple," Cmdr. Scott Schubert said. "We will do everything possible to help protect our children.

"If you drive past a stopped school bus while they are loading and unloading or speed in a school zone, you will be cited,” he said. “We will have additional unmarked cars, motorcycles, and marked police cars throughout the City of Pittsburgh, looking for people who violate the school bus stopping law or those who speed in school zones.” 

Pennsylvania’s school bus stopping law requires motorists to stop at least 10 feet away from school buses that have their red lights flashing and stop arm extended. Motorists must stop when they are behind the bus, meeting the bus or approaching an intersection where a bus is stopped.

Motorists following or traveling alongside a school bus must also stop until the red lights have stopped flashing, the stop arm is withdrawn and all children have reached safety. If physical barriers such as grassy medians, guide rails or concrete median barriers separate oncoming traffic from the bus, motorists in the opposing lanes may proceed without stopping.

Drivers who violate the law face the following penalties: 60-day driver’s license suspension, five points on their driving record and a $250 fine.

In addition to the increased officer presence, members of the Pittsburgh police will also cite violators based on information received from school crossing guards, bus drivers and other school officials, Schubert said.

Here are some tips for motorists:

• No matter if you have children in school or not, safety is everyone’s responsibility. Motorists must pay attention to the task at hand and that means slowing down in school zones, and watching for children and bicyclists. Younger children aren’t able to judge speed and distance as well as adults can, so it’s the responsibility of drivers to be alert. 
• Slow down and obey all traffic laws and speed limits.
• Pay attention to school zones.
• When a school bus is stopped and red flashers are on, drivers in both directions are required to stop before reaching the bus and remain stopped until the flashing lights are turned off.
• Watch for children walking or bicycling in the street and for youngsters gathering near bus stops.
• When backing out of a driveway or leaving a garage, look for children walking or biking to school.
• Don’t drive distracted (putting on makeup, texting, talking on the phone, etc.).
• Don’t drive impaired.
• Always use your seatbelt.