Dangerous driving practices prompts Scottsdale Schools to begin new year effort
Staff Reports | Digital Free Press
Scottsdale Unified School District is launching a school bus safety campaign to coincide with the beginning of the 2024-25 school year.
The campaign follows the disturbing findings of a one-day survey on May 1, 2024, that was conducted by the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services, SUSD officials tell the Digital Free Press.
On that day alone, 57 SUSD bus drivers reported 144 instances of drivers illegally passing stopped school buses that had their stop sign arms extended, SUSD officials report.
“This number is not just concerning — it’s a wake-up call,” said SUSD Transportation Director David Jacobson, in a prepared statement. “The safety of our students is a top priority, and the fact that 144 vehicles ignored the stop signs in a single day highlights the urgent need for increased awareness and stricter enforcement of traffic laws regarding school buses. With numbers like these, it’s a wonder no one has been injured yet.”
Scottsdale Police Chief Jeff Walther says his department’s traffic unit will conduct heavy traffic enforcement during the first two weeks of the new school year.
“Keeping children safe as they travel to and from school is an important, shared responsibility for motorists in our community and the police department,” Chief Walther said. “We are glad to have the support of community partners, like the Scottsdale Unified School District, as we continue to make traffic safer around school zones and school buses.”
The SUSD campaign will include:
- Increasing public awareness through various channels, including social media, local news, and community events.
- Working closely with local law enforcement to ensure stricter enforcement of traffic laws around school buses.
- Providing educational materials for students and parents about school bus safety laws and pedestrian best practices.
- Placing visible signs and banners in and around SUSD school zones to remind drivers to stop when school buses have their stop signs extended.
Arizona, like all states, requires motorists approaching, from either direction, a stopped school bus that is displaying its flashing red lights or has its stop arm extended to stop before reaching it. Drivers must remain stopped and not proceed until the school bus either begins moving again or the bus driver turns off the flashing red lights and withdraws the stop sign.
Nationwide, 36 states took part in the May 1 survey and, combined, reported more than 66,000 violations.
“The illegal passing of stopped school buses continues to be the greatest safety danger to children,” said NASDPTS President Mike Stier. “We hope the results of this survey remind all motorists to pay attention to the yellow school bus, to follow the laws in their state and stop to allow for the safe loading and unloading of each school bus, and to their part, for the safety of our children.”
