Centennial Bus Driver Honored at Pennsylvania School Bus Safety Awards

In Harrisburg this morning, PennDOT recognized Centennial School Bus Driver Larry Hannon for  earlier this year.

Hannon was honored along with 12 students from across the Commonwealth. The students, in kindergarten through eighth grade, received accolades for their
winning entries in the 2011 School Bus Safety Poster Contest.

Today's celebration served as Pennsylvania's kick-off for National School Bus Safety Week.

The theme for this year’s contest, "I See the Driver - The Driver Sees Me," stressed the need for students to be cautious and ensure that the driver and students see one another while loading and unloading a school bus.

"The poster contest is a unique opportunity to engage young people in
safety topics while giving them a chance to explore their creativity, and have a
little fun," said PennDOT Secretary Barry Schoch.

"These creations are a subtle reminder not only to their fellow students, but to all of us, that following common-sense rules with school buses can save young lives," he said.

This year's winners were chosen from more than 300 public and private school student entries. The first-place entries will be forwarded to a national competition to be judged at the end of this month.

During the ceremony, Schoch and Sgt. Robert Krol, Division Supervisor of
the Pennsylvania State Police Commercial Vehicle Safety Division, also presented
certificates and Governor’s citations to Hannon and five other school bus drivers for winning the 2011 Pennsylvania School Bus Driver Safety Competition.

Held each June, the competition tests school bus drivers' knowledge of safety rules and safe operation of their buses. Hannon placed third in the state competition for conventional style buses. 

"You are charged with an important role," said Krol. "Parents trust you to take their children to and from school every day – and do it safely. Your presence here today is testimony to the extraordinary job you are doing, and serves as a model to all school bus drivers."

During the ceremony, Krol also announced that “Operation Safe Stop” will be conducted statewide Oct. 19, uniting local and state law enforcement
agencies, school districts and student transportation agencies to raise awareness of the consequences of improperly passing school buses.

Police officers will be watching for motorists who violate the school bus stopping law. If possible, school bus drivers will also document any illegal passes occurring on their routes and will file reports with local police.

State law requires motorists approaching a school bus with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended, to stop at least 10 feet from the bus. 

Motorists approaching from all directions are required to stop. However, motorists who encounter a school bus stopping on the opposite side of a divided highway are not required to stop when lanes of the highway are clearly separated by a divider such as concrete barriers or grassy medians.

In 2010, nearly 800 motorists were convicted of violating Pennsylvania’s school
bus stopping law. The same year, there were 368 school bus crashes resulting in
six fatalities, including two school bus drivers.  No school bus passengers were killed.

For more information about school bus safety, visit PennDOT’s highway
safety website, www.DriveSafePA.org and select the School Bus Safety link under the Traffic Safety Information Center.

In addition, the website now offers an interactive feature illustrating Pennsylvania’s school bus stopping law to help motorists learn what to do when approaching or travelling behind a school bus.