Fines, Penalties Increase for Moving Violations in School Bus Zones

With school starting in less than a week, the Michigan Association for Pupil Transportation (MAPT) is urging drivers to exercise extreme caution when traveling in school bus zones so students can safely load and unload each day.

The message comes two months after Michigan Public Act 60 of 2011 passed on July 1, increasing fines and penalties for moving violations in school bus zones.

"The safety of our students is our number one priority," MAPT Executive Director Gary T. Bubar said. "The best way that drivers can help protect our children is to stop when they see flashing red lights on a school bus."

Unfortunately, thousands of vehicles illegally pass school buses in the United States every day, putting children at risk of injury or death, according to a recent press release from MAPT.

In a one-day, 28-state survey conducted earlier this year by the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS), an estimated 76,000 vehicles illegally passed a school bus. In Michigan, 8,500 school buses participated in the survey; 1,771 vehicles illegally passed a school bus with 936 incidents.

“Children are our most precious resource,” added Bubar. “Getting them to school and back home safely requires drivers to be on high alert in school bus zones all year long.”

The MAPT was founded in 1965 as a non-profit corporation uniting dedicated pupil transportation professionals with the common purpose of encouraging and promoting safe and efficient transportation for all Michigan students.

For school bus safety tips from the Michigan Department of Education, click here.

Source: Michigan Association for Pupil Transportation