PHOTOS: Young Joins Walorski, Sponsors of STOP for School Buses Act to View Demo of Bus Safety Technology
Click here or the image above for b-roll footage from today’s event.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.), and U.S. Reps. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) and Julia Brownley (D-Calif.), sponsors of the STOP for School Buses Act, today marked National School Bus Safety Week at a live demonstration of technologies aimed at preventing illegal passing of stopped school buses. The event comes a week ahead of the one-year anniversary of the tragic bus-related crash in Indiana that killed three young siblings and injured a fourth student.
The bipartisan group attended a school bus safety technology showcase hosted by the National School Transportation Association (NSTA). The event featured a school bus equipped with examples of technology used to prevent stop-arm violations.
“Next Wednesday will mark the one-year anniversary of the tragic deaths of three young Hoosiers in a bus-related crash in Fulton County. We cannot accept accidents like this as routine,” said Senator Young. “Today was an opportunity to raise support for the Stop for School Buses Act and spread awareness for the much-needed review of existing safety laws surrounding our school buses.”
“Every driver shares the roads with school buses, and we all have a role to play in keeping kids safe,” Congresswoman Walorski said. “Today’s event was an important opportunity to learn more about innovative technologies that can help prevent drivers from illegally passing school buses and to discuss our bipartisan efforts in Congress to ensure students are safe on their way to and from school. The STOP for School Buses Act will help states and local communities take the most effective actions to prevent tragedies and save lives.”
“No parent should ever have to worry about their child being injured or even losing their life while waiting for or boarding their school bus,” said Senator Peters. “We’ve seen a growing number of incidents that pose a risk to the safety of our students and we must take action. It’s time for the Senate to pass the STOP for School Buses Act. I am hopeful that new technologies combined with a comprehensive review of best school bus safety practices will help dramatically reduce these tragic accidents.”
Last year, in Rochester, Indiana, a driver struck and killed three young siblings and injured a fourth student while they were boarding a school bus. Following the school bus tragedy, Senator Young introduced the STOP for School Buses Act (H.R. 2218 / S. 1254) to improve student safety by examining ways to prevent dangerous, illegal passing of school buses when children are present. The bipartisan, bicameral bill would direct the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to conduct a comprehensive review of existing laws and programs, recommend best practices, and create a nationwide public safety campaign.
Photos from today’s event:
From left to right: Representative Julia Brownley, Senator Gary Peters, Senator Todd Young, and Representative Jackie Walorski.
Representative Jackie Walorski and Senator Todd Young attending the school bus safety technology showcase.
Senator Young viewing the school bus safety technology demonstration.
Senator Young viewing the school bus safety technology demonstration.
From left to right: Representative Julia Brownley, Senator Gary Peters, Representative Jackie Walorski, and Senator Todd Young.