Operation Safe Stop Campaign Targets Illegal School Bus Passing in Wisconsin

School buses on routes also use flashing amber lights to notify motorists that the bus is preparing to stop.

Official response and confirmed impact

Drivers should slow down and prepare to stop when the amber lights activate, as they warns motorists that the red flashing lights are next.

State patrol officers are then assigned to monitor those locations, with an emphasis on identifying drivers who illegally pass buses or engage in other dangerous behavior.

Officers also visit other areas of concern within their respective regions and follow school buses along their routes to determine whether motorists are following traffic laws.

The enforcement activity is intended to help protect students as they travel to and from school.

The partnership also allows officers to meet with school bus drivers and verify that warning lights and other safety equipment on their vehicles are operating properly.

“This week-long initiative is dedicated to protecting Wisconsin’s children and ensuring their safety,” Cherie Hime, the association executive director.

Incident background

As part of Operation Safe Stop Week, the Wisconsin School Bus Association works with its members to identify bus stops where illegal passing frequently occurs.