Illegal Passing Is Dangerous to Our Children

ALBANY, NY (04/30/2009)(readMedia)-- Calling illegal passing of school buses an ominous risk for our children, the New York Association for Pupil Transportation announced that it is working with the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee to deploy advanced technology in the Brewster Central School District to apprehend drivers who pass school buses that are stopped to pick up or drop off students.

This new technology comes in the form of an MPH-900 Advanced License Plate Reader manufactured by ELSAG, North America. The ELSAG equipment is currently in use by dozens of police agencies across New York State to aid in major law enforcement activities. Use of the ELSAG MPH-900 in Brewster is being supported under a pilot project through a grant to NYAPT from the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

NYAPT Executive Director, Peter Mannella, noted "illegal passing of school buses presents a terrible risk for our children. Our children are entitled to know that they can get onto and off of their school bus each day without fear of injury or death. Motorists – our neighbors and families -- need to STOP for our children's sake. We hope this technology will help call attention to the extent of the problem!"

U.S. Representative John Hall (D-19) stated that: "Today we are announcing a significant effort to keep the children of Brewster safe from reckless drivers. Sadly, all too often drivers ignore stop signs that warn drivers that small children are crossing the street on their way to or from school. Statistics from the NY Association for Pupil Transportation show that motorists pass stopped school buses at least 50,000 times each day in New York State. The consequences can be fatal. Injury to even one child is unacceptable, and reckless drivers need to be punished. But to be punished, they must be caught, which where the cameras, built by ELSAG, which is headquartered right here in Brewster, come in. This project is a great example of a partnership between the private sector, local and state government, and the federal government that provided a grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. I'm pleased to support federal transportation safety initiatives from my position on the House Transportation Committee because these sorts of projects, like the one we're talking about today, quite literally save lives."

This innovative and cutting edge effort to help combat such a dangerous problem is being deployed on school buses in three school districts for the remainder of the school year. Under the project NYAPT intends to demonstrate the effectiveness of such devices in identifying and apprehending motorists who pass school buses illegally and therefore endanger our children. NYAPT also intends to use the experience with the cameras to drive home the message to motorists that this is not only illegal activity but also is dangerous for our children. Accordingly, the pilot project will include public education and issuance of formal warnings to violators.

NYAPT wants to remind the public that the law requires vehicles to STOP for a school bus that is stopped and has its red flashing lights engaged. Those flashing red lights mean that a child is about to board the school bus or step down from the school bus. In short, all vehicles moving in either direction are required by law to STOP. Violators face stiff penalties that include fines and points on one's license in addition to possible time in jail. NYAPT notes the startling fact that, despite the law, motorists pass stop school buses at least 50,000 times each day in New York State. That is at least 50,000 times every day that a child is placed at great risk of being injured or even killed.

In addition to a school bus in the Brewster Central Schools, the project will equip school buses from the Bethlehem Central School District and the Canandaigua City School District.

For further information on this important pilot project or on the overall issue of illegal passing of school buses, please contact Peter Mannella at the New York Association for Pupil Transportation at 518-463-4937 or cell at 518-588-3924.

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