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DUNCANSVILLE -- Hefty fines will greet motorists who don't abide by school bus rules as police ramp up patrols to coincide with the start of school this week, said Allegheny Township patrolman Paul Nagle.
Safety on and off the bus was the topic of conversation Monday morning at the Fullington Auto Bus Co. in Duncansville, where Fullington Safety Director Rick Focht was joined by police and PennDOT officials to talk about new developments that make buses safer and to urge motorists to follow the law.
Compartmentalization is designed specifically to protect students in the event that buses are involved in a crash, Focht said.
The idea behind the feature is that students "are seated kind of like eggs in an egg carton," he said. "The seats are modified and improved to be seating kids higher and closer together, which holds them in position so that, in the event of an accident, they aren't moving."
Focht said that such technology makes buses a safer mode of transportation than cars.
"The technology has been evolving in the last five years," Focht said. "The thickness of the backs of the seats has recently increased as well."
Another safety feature that all local school buses have, Focht said, is a camera that can capture images of the license plates of drivers who meet or overtake the buses.
"Buses are equipped with both inside and outside cameras," Focht said. "They're designed for overall safety and they can pick up infractions."
"Make sure you're stopping for school buses with activated emergency lights, the red stoplight and signal arm, and watch out for children," Nagle urged motorists.
Drivers who don't obey the laws will be met with steep fines.
"There's going to be a citation with up to a $250 fine and a 60-day driver's license suspension," Nagle said, for anyone meeting or overtaking a school bus.
Nagle said Allegheny Township police see more rule-breaking in certain portions of its coverage area.
"On Plank Road and in the convention center area, it's a big problem," he said.
Not only is it a problem, Nagle said, it's getting worse.
"It's either people not leaving early enough for work or not paying attention. There's probably some confusion with a barrier. From Municipal Drive up to the convention center, there's no barrier, so everybody needs to stop."
While safety in these situations is motorists' responsibility, Nagle said, parents and children need to be diligent as well.
"Be aware of your surroundings," Nagle said.
According to State Police Trooper Michael Whelan, officers will be present, both in marked and unmarked vehicles.
"Be advised that we are out there," Whelan said. "Just because we aren't behind you doesn't mean we're not in the area. Kids are our future, and we need to take that into consideration and protect them."
Mirror Staff Writer Andrew Mollenauer is at 814-946-7428.