PennDOT hosts ‘love the bus’ program at Clearfield Elementary

CLEARFIELD COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — A program at the Clearfield Elementary School, held on Thursday, highlighted the importance of bus drivers and driver safety around school buses.

The program called, “Love the Bus,” was hosted by Pennsylvania Senator Wayne Langerholc, Jr. (R-35) joined the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the Highway Safety Network (HSN) on Feb. 29.

One of the points the program looked to highlight was that when drivers are approaching a stopped school bus, they must wait until the red lights have stopped flashing, the bus driver withdraws the stop arm and all children have reached where they are going safely.

“It always amazed me the amount of people that just refuse to stop for a flashing red light or don’t honor that red light,” Langerholc said. “It’s very concerning. You know, our children are most precious asset and we must make sure that we get every tool available to make sure that they stay safe.”

The Commonwealth has strong deterrents to preserve school bus safety, including Act 19 of 2023 that reinforces the automated enforcement of meeting or overtaking a stopped school bus in certain districts with a civil penalty. In addition, drivers who are caught by police passing a stopped school pus may face steeper fines and penalties.

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During the program, first-grade students at the elementary school gave valentines to their bus drivers along with a safety activity book. Students also received tips on how to get to the bus safely, how to wait for the bus and the proper way to treat themselves and others while riding the bus.

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