Governor Sununu Proclaims School Bus Safety Week, Announces Second Year of Operation Safe Stop

Concord, NH – Today, Governor Chris Sununu joined New Hampshire Department of Safety Commissioner Bob Quinn, Bow Police Chief Margaret Lougee, and Bow School officials to proclaim the week of October 21, 2019, as “School Bus Safety Week” in New Hampshire, as well as announce the second year of “Operation Safe Stop (OSS). Operation Safe Stop is an educational campaign combined with enforcement patrols to call attention to the increasing dangers of illegally passing school buses, and to reduce the number of incidents that occur each year.
 
“If we cannot put our kids on a school bus each morning and know they will be safe, nothing else matters,” said Governor Chris Sununu. “Raising awareness for this incredibly important initiative will keep students safe and drivers informed on the rules of the road.”
 
More than 50 local law enforcement agencies will be conducting high-visibility enforcement efforts throughout their communities to help reduce the number of violations and to help remind the motoring public about their responsibility to follow the rules of the roads. In conjunction with the enforcement efforts, many school districts will engage their bus drivers, providing each with educational materials with the hopes of reinforcing the importance of school bus safety to parents, drivers and students.
 
In recent years, the Granite State has been very fortunate that there have been no serious injuries or deaths due to negligent drivers violating the law requiring them to STOP for a school bus. With these coordinated efforts, the goal is to make sure everyone gets home safely and to reduce the number of incidents that occur on New Hampshire roadways.