THP Participates in National School Bus Safety Week

Nashville, Tennessee — The Tennessee Department of Safety and the Tennessee Highway Patrol are participating in National School Bus Safety Week, October 22 – 26, 2007. This year’s theme, “Be Aware! Cross with Care,” reminds children in Tennessee who ride a school bus to always cross in front of the bus and to look both ways before crossing the street.

“School buses safely transport nearly 25-million kids to and from school everyday, more than 500-thousand right here in Tennessee,” stated Commissioner David Mitchell. “That’s 500-thousand precious reasons motorists need to be alert and stop for stopped school buses.”

Troopers have written a total of 1,197 citations to drivers since August 1, 2007, as part of THP’s Safe Schools Enforcement Campaign. More than 300 of those drivers were ticketed for speeding in a school zone. Last year, Troopers issued nearly 6,500 citations in school zones across the state.

“Our school bus drivers are doing a great job keeping children safe, but they need the help of other motorists,” said Colonel Mike Walker. “Our goal is to make sure children get to school and back home safely. That’s why Troopers enforce traffic laws, train school bus drivers and inspect buses.”

More than 11-thousand school bus drivers were trained last year by the Department of Safety. Troopers also inspected 9,988 school buses.

The THP plans to increase its presence in school zones throughout the state during School Bus Safety Week. In some counties, Troopers will ride buses, as well as follow school buses in marked patrol units, looking for drivers who ignore the red flashing lights and pass school buses that are stopped to load or unload children.

“Drivers need to know that a school zone isn’t just the 15-mile-per-hour area around a school. It’s anywhere children travel,” Colonel Walker added. “This effort is very important to us because many of us are parents and grandparents.”

The Tennessee Department of Safety (www.tennessee.gov/safety) is responsible for ensuring the safety and general welfare of the traveling public. The department’s general areas of responsibility encompass law enforcement, safety education and motorist services, including the issuance of driver licenses. The department and its highly trained staff of Troopers are responsible for safety on more than 15,000 miles of state and federal highways.