‘Operation Safe Stop’ aims to crack down on illegal school bus passing [Video]

MONROE, Mich. (WXYZ) — In an effort to crack down on illegal school bus passing, police departments across the state is implementing ‘Operation Safe Stop’ as part of School Bus Safety Week, assigning more officers to watch out for these drivers.

Starting today, (Monday, Oct. 21) law enforcement officers across Michigan will be ramping up patrols as part of a safety initiative looking for drivers illegally passing school buses. Police departments participating will work with their local school districts to provide education and enforcement for their communities.

There were 988 crashes involving school buses in Michigan in 2023, according to the Michigan State Police Criminal Justice Information Center (CJIC), with five of those crashes sadly being fatal. Per CJIC, there were 73 crashes at school bus stops, where the bus lights were activated. Of the 73 school bus stop crashes, although there were no fatalities, there were 31 injuries.

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