Police Commissioner Issues Statement In Observance Of Nat’l School Bus Safety Week

In observance of National School Bus Safety Week–Monday, Oct. 20, through Friday, Oct. 24–Police Commissioner Rodney F. Querrard, Sr. joins with Department of Education officials to remind motorists to observe the laws governing school zones and when school buses are discharging students.

The Commissioner said this years’ theme, “At My Stop, You Stop,” is timely because he has received reports over the years of drivers not stopping when a school bus stops, extends its stop sign, and activates its flashing lights.

“Disregarding the signs of a stopped school bus discharging students is very risky behavior, and a violation of the law,” he said. “Let us not wait for a child to get injured or killed.

Bus drivers and school crossing guards are required to report all vehicles that speed around stopped school buses when they are discharging students.

Commissioner Querrard also reminds drivers to heed posted road signs, especially those instructing drivers to slow down in school zones. VI law mandates that when school is in session, the speed limit in a school zone is 20 miles per hour, even when students are not present. When children are present, the speed limit reduces to 10 miles per hour.

“The signs are placed there for a reason,” he said. “A child or pedestrian hurt, or worse, because of someone’s negligence, and not following the letter of the law just might be their own child or family member, or someone they know. It is just not worth taking the chance. There is no excuse to put our children in harm’s way by ignoring the law as it pertains to stopped school buses or neglecting to follow what the posted signs indicate.”