thp participates in school bus safety week

The Tn Dept of Safety and The THP are participating  in National  School Bus Safety Week October 22-26, 2007. This years them "Be Aware! Cross with Care" reminds  children in Tennessee who ride a 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 Tn. stated Commissioner David Mitchell.

Thats 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 enforce traffic laws, train school bus drivers and inspect buses. More than 11-thousand school bus drivers are doing a great job keeping children safe, but they need the help of other motorists said Colonel Mike Walter. "Our goal is to make sure children get to school and back home safely.

The THP plans to increase it's 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's mission is (www.tennessee.gov/safety) to ensure the safety and general welfare of the public.  The department encompasses the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Office of safety education, motorist services and terrorism prevention.