INDIANAPOLIS- Governor Holcomb has announced the next round of school bus safety patrols.
More than 200 officers will be conducting extra patrols to be sure students can get on and off the bus safely. Officers will be at bus stops and routes around central Indiana looking for stop-arm violations.
The initiative is part of the state’s Stop Arm Violation Enforcement (SAVE) program. SAVE was developed by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute in 2019. The program is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Last year, thousands of Hoosier bus drivers reported more than 2,500 stop-arm violations during a single-day survey. Violations include if motorists pass a bus that is stopped with a stop-arm extended and lights flashing.
Penalties for stop-arm violations have increased, including the driver losing their license for up to a year.
“Police officers are stepping up their efforts to keep kids safe, but they can’t be in all places at all times. School bus safety is everyone’s responsibility. That means paying attention to the road and driving cautiously when buses are around,”
Governor Holcomb said in a press release Monday.
‘As part of the effort, officers will work with local school corporations and bus drivers to identify problem areas where the highest number of violations occur.’
