What are all these red octagons doing on our streets? They’re like, everywhere: even on our buses. Who am I kidding? Every driver who has passed their knowledge test knows what they are. Or, maybe they’ve read the “STOP” posted in big, white letters. 

I digress. I was getting off my bus last Friday. Same typical routine. Moments before the stop, the bus driver flicked a button that activated the flashing amber warning lights, and once the driver pulled the air brake, the red lights flashed and the stop arm was extended. I got off the bus and was so used to just having the street safe to cross that I didn’t care to look both ways. Why? One, it’s a school zone. Two, it’s two-way next to an elementary school, and three, other drivers were also stopped. Out of nowhere, a gray Jeep SUV came swerving out and past the school bus on the opposite side, almost hitting me. The bus driver honked at the driver and I was clutching onto the strap of my backpack, frozen in place for a second. Only then did I look both ways (like five times because I was truly terrified) and ran to the sidewalk on the other side of the street. 

A few years back, before COVID, Abington School District and the Abington Township Police Department participated in “Operation Safe Stop” to create higher public awareness about bus safety among motorists as part of National School Bus Safety Week, which ran October 22-26. Officers would post near “trouble spots” and catch any cars that violated the stop sign. 

“Abington School District and the Abington Police Department remind the public that Pennsylvania’s School Bus Stopping Law requires that motorists stop in the following situations:

• When meeting or overtaking a stopped school bus with red signal lights flashing and “stop arm” extended
• When they are behind the bus, meeting the bus, or approaching an intersection where a bus is stopped.
• Motorists must stop at least ten feet away from the school bus and wait until the red lights have stopped flashing and the stop arm has been withdrawn before moving.
• Until all children have reached a place of safety, motorists must remain stopped.

I thought it was common sense, but apparently not. Please, if you’re driving, stop when you see the red octagon– especially when kids are present.