Bensalem Police To Ride School Buses In Effort To Crack Down On Drivers Who Pass Stopped Buses
BENSALEM, Pa (CBS) -- Bensalem Police have a message for drivers: stop for school buses. It's the focus of a public service announcement released Tuesday.
"People are disrespecting the school buses and just running through school bus lights and speeding through school zones," Township Director of Public Safety Fred Harran says in the PSA.
As part of an initiative with the township's schools, police officers will ride school buses with students and have cars trailing them. Any driver who fails to stop for the flashing lights will be pulled over and cited.
"We're going to send a message to Bensalem that our children are priority one. This is our message to you. Help us keep our kids safe. Let's get them to school safe and let's get them home safe. They deserve it," Harran said.
In one incident on Jan. 6, police say Kathleen Wesley of Croydon was driving under the influence when she tried to pass a stopped school bus and hit a 12-year-old girl. The girl was crossing Bensalem Boulevard at Timber Lane to board the bus and was seriously hurt.
Not stopping for a school bus carries hefty penalties, which include a $250 fine, 60-day suspension of your driver's license and five points on your license.