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Scottsdale Unified School District Launches School Bus Safety Campaign to Combat Dangerous Driving Practices

Scottsdale Unified School District Launches School Bus Safety Campaign to Combat Dangerous Driving Practices

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (July 31, 2024) – In a concerted effort to enhance the safety of its students, Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) is launching a school bus safety campaign to coincide with the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year next week.

The campaign follows the disturbing findings of a one-day survey on May 1, 2024, that was conducted by the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS). On that day alone, 57 SUSD bus drivers reported 144 instances of drivers illegally passing stopped school buses that had their stop sign arms extended.

“This number is not just concerning ‒ it's a wake-up call,” says SUSD Transportation Director, David Jacobson. “The safety of our students is a top priority, and the fact that 144 vehicles ignored the stop signs in a single day highlights the urgent need for increased awareness and stricter enforcement of traffic laws regarding school buses.

“With numbers like these,” Jacobson added, “it's a wonder no one has been injured yet.”

Scottsdale Police Chief Jeff Walther says his department’s traffic unit will conduct heavy traffic enforcement during the first two weeks of the new school year. “Keeping children safe as they travel to and from school is an important, shared responsibility for motorists in our community and the police department,” explains Walther. “We are glad to have the support of community partners, like the Scottsdale Unified School District, as we continue to make traffic safer around school zones and school buses.”

“This campaign,” says Walther, “will go a long way toward reminding motorists to slow down, focus on the road, and keep children safe.”

The SUSD campaign will include:

  • Increasing public awareness through various channels, including social media, local news, and community events.
  • Working closely with local law enforcement to ensure stricter enforcement of traffic laws around school buses.
  • Providing educational materials for students and parents about school bus safety laws and pedestrian best practices.
  • Placing visible signs and banners in and around SUSD school zones to remind drivers to stop when school buses have their stop signs extended.

Arizona, like all states, requires motorists approaching, from either direction, a stopped school bus that is displaying its flashing red lights or has its stop arm extended to stop before reaching it. Drivers must remain stopped and not proceed until the school bus either begins moving again or the bus driver turns off the flashing red lights and withdraws the stop sign.

A person who is responsible for violating A.R.S. §28-857 is subject to the following:

1. A minimum civil penalty of $250 for the first violation.

2. If a person violates this section a second time within a period of 36 months, the court shall impose a minimum civil penalty of $750 and shall direct the department to suspend the driver license of the person for not more than six months.

3. If a person violates this section three or more times within a period of 36 months, the court shall impose a minimum civil penalty of $1,000 and shall direct the department to suspend the driver license of the person for at least six months but not more than one year.

Nationwide, 36 states took part in the May 1 survey and, combined, reported more than 66,000 violations.

“The illegal passing of stopped school buses continues to be the greatest safety danger to children,” states NASDPTS President Mike Stier. “We hope the results of this survey remind all motorists to pay attention to the yellow school bus, to follow the laws in their state and stop to allow for the safe loading and unloading of each school bus, and to their part, for the safety of our children.”

SUSD urges all members of our community to participate in this initiative. For more information on how you can support SUSD’s School Bus Safety Campaign, please visit susd.org/transportation.

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About the Scottsdale Unified School District With more than 21,000 students in 30 schools, the Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) has been a premier choice for pre-kindergarten through grade 12 public education for 127 years. Located northeast of metropolitan Phoenix, the District serves the educational needs of students and families in Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, Tempe and Scottsdale. A highly experienced, professionally certified teaching staff fosters a diverse and rigorous educational environment that engages all students in world-class, future-focused learning. Offering gifted learning, special education, career and technical education, and a variety of athletics, arts and enrichment programs and clubs, SUSD provides the rich environment today’s students need to explore their interests, develop important social skills and grow into tomorrow’s leaders. For more information, visit www.susd.org and follow along on social media: Facebook: @ScottsdaleUSD, X: @ScottsdaleUSD, Instagram: @ScottsdaleUnifiedSD, LinkedIn and YouTube.