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of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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    Operation Safe Stop

    Each year, through Operation Safe Stop, law enforcement agencies, school transportation providers, pupil transportation associations and PennDOT have combined their efforts to raise public awareness about potential consequences and reduce the occurrence of illegal school bus passes.

    Overview

    National School Bus Safety Week is October 21–25, 2024, and PennDOT will commence with Operation Safe Stop on Wednesday, October 23 2024. PennDOT encourages School Districts to participate in continued support to ensure children are transported to and from school safely. 

    PennDOT will be releasing a series of messages in support of National School Bus Safety week through its social media channels. If you have not followed the Department's Facebook page, we encourage you to do so.

    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 activated. 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or traveling alongside a school bus must also stop until the red lights have stopped flashing, the stop arm is withdrawn, and all children have reached safety.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.