Today is the first day of school for three Butler County school districts, which means young kids, and buses, out on local roadways.
“Illegal passing or the passing of buses is our single biggest concern,” Mike Berk, executive director of the Pennsylvania School Bus Assocation, says. “Every year we see, for some reason, drivers are rolling past the stop arm and they’re just not paying attention.”
The agency is reminding drivers- who have not had to deal with kids running across streets and school buses for several months- to be alert. Passing school buses with flashing red and yellow lights is illegal and could result in a hefty fine and a loss of license, not to mention it’s a huge safety hazard.
The association is also helping school districts across the state that are dealing with a shortage of bus drivers. Every school bus driver must now have a background check before getting behind the wheel. Students in the Moniteau, Slippery Rock and South Butler school districts head back to class today. Freeport and Mars students start on Thursday.
