Operation Safe Stop Event Planned

ALBANY, NY (04/14/2010)(readMedia)-- The New York Association for Pupil Transportation, in cooperation with the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee and law enforcement agencies across the State, will conduct the annual OPERATION SAFE STOP program on Thursday, April 15, 2010.

A statewide press event will be held at 11:00 am at the Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES at 4747 Middle Settlement Road, New Hartford, New York.

Participating in the event as featured speaker will be State Motor Vehicles Commissioner David Swarts, as well as school administrators and school transportation supervisors, representatives of the New York State Police, representatives of local law enforcement agencies, and the New York Association for Pupil Transportation.

Section 1174 of the State's Vehicle and Traffic Law requires that all motorists stop for school buses that are loading or unloading children and have their red lights flashing. Despite that law, more than 50,000 motorists each day pass stopped school buses illegally and often injure children who are getting on or off of their school bus in the process.

Operation Safe Stop is a program supported by the school transportation industry, law enforcement agencies and the State of New York (particularly the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee) and is aimed at reducing the incidence of illegal passing and at increasing the enforcement of this law to protect our children.

For further information, contact Peter Mannella at 518-588-3924 (cell) or e-mail at "peter@nyapt.org."