On April 22, law enforcement officers around the state will participate in Operation Safe Stop Day. During “Safe Stop,” police officers are on board school buses and in marked and unmarked patrol units on selected bus routes that have a history of illegal passing complaints. Police issue tickets to drivers who pass stopped school buses.

In New York State, it is illegal to pass a bus when its red lights are flashing. When drivers see the red lights flashing, they must come to a complete stop at least 20 feet away from the bus so that the bus driver can pick up or discharge students. This rule applies even when a bus has its red lights flashing in a parking lot, on school grounds, on a multi-lane highway or on the opposite side of a divided highway. Drivers must stop, whether they are approaching the bus from the front or the rear. When the red lights stop flashing or when the bus driver signals, drivers may resume driving. Drivers must yield to flashing yellow lights on a bus, slow down and be prepared to stop. For more information, visit https://trafficsafety.ny.gov/operation-safe-stop.