Reporting Deputy: Sergeant Ed Reynoso
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Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Reminds Drivers to Always Stop for School Buses During National School Bus Safety Week
Blythe, CA – This National School Bus Safety Week (October 17-21), Riverside Sheriff-Colorado River Station supports efforts throughout the state to keep children and caregivers safe by reminding drivers on the dangers of passing a stopped school bus. Drivers are required to come to a complete stop when a school bus stop-arm is extended, and the red lights are flashing.
Held annually during the third week of October, National School Bus Safety Week is a way for parents, children, teachers, bus drivers, school administrators and law enforcement to promote traveling to and from school by bus as a safe transportation option. This year’s campaign focuses on preventing illegal school bus passing.
While riding the bus is the safest way for children to get to and from school, an alarming number of drivers illegally pass school buses who have their red lights activated. From 2011 to 2020 a total of 218 school-age children (18 and younger) died in school-bus-related crashes during that period, either riding on school buses, other cars, or on foot or bike, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
During National School Bus Safety Week, uniformed deputies will work to monitor crosswalks and areas surrounding the schools for drivers who do not yield for bicyclists or pedestrians, are speeding, or illegally passing a school bus.
With few exceptions, California law requires drivers to stop in both directions when a school bus has flashing red lights on. Drivers must stop until the red lights are off, and children are on or off the bus and safely out of the road.
“It is so important that we remind drivers in our community that when red lights are flashing, there is no passing,” Riverside Sheriff-Colorado River Station Deputy Ruvalcaba said. “Children and their parents/guardians are relying on drivers to follow the law and keep them safe.”
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