Wisconsin Safe Stop Week Seeks to Combat Illegal School Bus Passers

Sunday, September 25th, 2022 -- 6:38 AM

The Wisconsin School Bus Association and the Wisconsin State Patrol are conducting "Operation Safe Stop Week" September 26 to September 30th. "Operation Safe Stop Week" seeks to promote school bus safety through education and enforcement efforts.

In Wisconsin, there are over 12,000 school buses that transport more than 750,000 students to and from school each school day and travel nearly 70 million miles a year. An estimated 40% of motor vehicles illegally pass Wisconsin school buses every day, based on the 2022 stop arm survey.

Sometimes drivers are not fully alert and pass a stopped school bus. This is a very dangerous situation for the children, especially the younger ones who may not be watching traffic as closely as they should.

Motorists are required to stop at least 20 feet from a stopped school bus that is displaying flashing red lights and stop arm. Each time a motorist violates the school bus stop law, he or she creates a real hazard for the students who are boarding or leaving the bus.

Wisconsin uses an 8-light school bus warning system. The alternately flashing yellow lights mean CAUTION to other motorists because the bus is preparing to stop. The flashing red lights and stop arm mean STOP. A vehicle that approaches a stopped school bus that is displaying flashing red warning lights, must stop not less than 20 feet from the bus and remain stopped until the bus resumes motion or the operator extinguishes the flashing red warning lights. Failure to do so could result in a fine between $30 and $300.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.