TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — School is back in session around the Wabash Valley, but it’s not just teachers and students whose routines will be changed.
In the mornings and afternoons, many residents will encounter school buses.
Local law enforcement organizations want to remind you to slow down while driving, remove any distractions, and stop at any time you see the bus stop sign arm extended.
Lieutenant Justin Sears of the Terre Haute Police Department said they will have extra enforcement near school zones, and they will be on the lookout for anybody endangering the safety of children.
“We’re going to be following the buses and that means there may be a bunch of traffic stops or extra traffic stops”, Sears said. “I would say the majority of those will probably be warnings depending on the severity of the infractions, but I can say that passing bus arms and distracted drivers will most likely not get a warning from the Terre Haute Police Department. Those are serious and dangerous offenses.”
Along with the Terre Haute Police Department, the Vigo County Sheriff’s Department will also have added enforcement near schools and school zones.
However, Sheriff Derek Fell said monitoring the county roads will be a priority as drivers behave differently.
“In the county the speed limits change, so people are maybe speeding a little bit more in the county and its more wide-open areas”, Fell said. “We just ask people to be cognizant of their driving behaviors. We ask people to take five or ten minutes and leave a little bit earlier when they’re doing their commutes, especially in the morning or afternoon.”
School begins for Vigo County School Corporation next week, August 12th.
