Boone County Sheriff’s Office Releases Driving Safety Tips, New State Funded Stop Arm Violation Enforcement Information

Within the 420 square miles of Boone County Indiana, there are 17 schools contained in three School Corporations: 1) The Western Boone Community Schools which has 3 schools, 2) The Lebanon Community School Corporation with 6 schools, and 3) The Zionsville Community School Corporation with 8 schools. Transporting approximately 9,300 students daily.

The goals of the Boone County Traffic Safety Partnership (BCTSP) are in-line with Stop Arm Violation Enforcement (SAVE) grant.

The Stop Arm Violation Enforcement (SAVE) grant promotes a coordinated effort to improve compliance with school bus stop arms. The program is designed to encourage collaboration between law enforcement, school corporations, and school bus operators. The SAVE Program goal is to support and provide safe transportation routes to and from school for school children of all ages in Indiana. This program is intended to prevent violations through high visibility enforcement (HVE) by following school bus routes to provide on the spot enforcement for violations. The program provides for mobilization periods following absence of school buses from roadways due to scheduled student breaks such as: Summer Break, Fall Break, Winter Break and Spring Break.

The FY19 program will include an operational period Monday-Friday on days when school is in session, for a short period. Upon arrival at school locations from routes of travel, officers can provide on-site support for crosswalk, and seatbelt violations, furthering support for safe travels to school.

Reminder of Safety Tips for drivers this school year:
– SLOW DOWN, BEWARE AND DRIVE SAFELY – Share the Road
– NEVER pass a bus from behind – or from either direction if you’re on an undivided road – if it is stopped to load
or unload children.
– If the yellow or red lights are flashing on the bus and the stop arm is extend, traffic must stop.
– The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children; stop far enough back to allow the children space to safely enter and exit the bus.
– BE ALERT – When children are getting on or off a bus and around all crosswalks.
– Many kids will be walking and on bikes also, so it is important to slow down and use extra caution when approaching a crosswalk. Do not block the crosswalks with your vehicle and allow the children to cross safely.
– In a school zone when flashers are blinking, stop and yield to the pedestrians crossing the crosswalk or intersection.
– NEVER pass a vehicle that is stopped for a pedestrian

Here is the link to last year’s collaborative PSA announcement: