School bus safety is the focus of a special statewide public awareness effort that will start Monday. “Flashing Red, Kids Ahead” is the theme for the three-week effort, which is being led by the Arkansas Department of Education.
Educators, parents, school bus drivers and community leaders throughout the Natural State will be using the three weeks as an opportunity to remind Arkansas motorists to obey all traffic laws whenever they are near a school bus. This special effort will also seek to remind drivers that it is illegal to pass a stopped school bus whenever its red lights are flashing and students are loading or unloading the bus.
The fines, penalties and punishment for anyone found guilty of illegally passing a stopped school bus were dramatically increased by Arkansas Act 2128 of 2005, also known as Isaac’s Law. The legislation was named for Isaac Brian, an elementary school student in the Bryant School District, who was struck and killed when a driver illegally passed his school bus while students were unloading.
Details: www.arkansased.org/divisions/communications/pressroom.