(WHTM) — The school year is getting underway this week in some districts with teacher in-service days and state officials are reminding drivers to be mindful of school buses and school zones.
In the past five years, 22,502 drivers have been cited for school zone violations statewide, according to data from the Pennsylvania courts system.
That tally includes 14,920 for speeding in a school zone and 7,582 for passing a stopped school bus. The latter has been a growing concern in the Midstate.
Pennsylvania school buses are required to have flashing red and amber lights, a stop sign with flashing lights, and a crossing control arm to be used when the red lights are active. For some drivers, none of the above is a deterrent.
One driver was caught on camera passing a bus in Manor Township in April.
Earlier this year, a state senator from northeastern Pennsylvania introduced legislation to strengthen bus safety laws and stiffen penalties for those who pass illegally.
According to data shared by the state courts system, the majority of citations for illegally passing a school bus were filed in Allegheny and Montgomery counties in the past five years. Those counties account for 17.65% and 13.97% of the statewide total respectively.
Locally, Lancaster and York counties account for 3.68% and 4.71% of the statewide totals. Juniata and Fulton counties had among the lowest totals statewide with five and eight citations respectively.
As for speeding in a school zone, a whopping 31.88% of citations were filed in Montgomery County, topping the state. Lancaster County accounts for 1.48% of the statewide total.
You can view the full data here.
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