GI is a Safe Stop

Grand Island Dispatch, April 4, 2008

Chief Dennis Rankin of the Erie County Sheriff’s Department speaks during a press conference at Sidway Elementary Tuesday as first graders at the school look on. The 13th annual Operation Safe Stop Day focuses on warning the public about illegally passing school buses. (photo by Larry Austin)

Grand Island Central School District hosted the Western Chapter of the New York Association for Pupil Transportation, the New York State Police and other police agencies Wednesday as they spread the news of Operation Safe Stop Day, an initiative to warn motorists about the dangers of passing stopped school buses.

Officers from multiple police agencies followed Island buses Wednesday morning watching for vehicles illegally passing buses, but there were no violations, according to Transportation Director Jack Burns.

School Superintendent Robert Christmann called the issue “a real safety concern here, and we need your help” in spreading the message of vehicle safety in regards to children. He said 50,000 times a day, a stopped bus is passed illegally in the U.S.