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As students head back to the classroom, state and local law enforcement agencies are reminding motorists to be on the lookout for school bus stop arms. As school begins, officers will be increasing patrols to prevent stop-arm violations, speeding, and reckless driving around school buses and school zones.

The patrols are part of the Stop Arm Violation Enforcement campaign – better known as SAVE. These patrols are funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) through grants administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI).

Despite thousands of motorists being cited under the SAVE program, unsafe driving around school buses continues to be a serious danger to children, according to the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS). 

In April, thousands of bus drivers who participated in a one-day observational survey counted 1,574 stop-arm violations in Indiana. Projected across a 180-day school year, this survey data points to a potential 283,320 violations throughout the school year. 

The data comes from the NASDPTS annual survey, which is managed by the Indiana Department of Education for the state of Indiana. This year, data collection took place on April 23, with 4,910 bus drivers participating.

"There is no excuse for drivers to put the lives of students in danger," said ICJI Traffic Safety Director James Bryan. “Drivers need to exercise caution around school buses and follow all traffic statutes.” 

To prevent unsafe driving, officers will use a range of enforcement strategies from high-visibility patrols to police spotters on buses. For each jurisdiction, officers will coordinate with local bus drivers and school transportation officials, with efforts concentrating in the morning and afternoon hours. Agencies will also be working to raise awareness about the importance of school bus safety and following the law.

Drivers should slow down and prepare to stop when the overhead lights on a school bus are flashing yellow. Once the lights turn red and the stop arm extends, drivers are required to stop on all roads with only one exception. On highways divided by a physical barrier, such as a concrete wall or grassy median, only vehicles traveling in the same direction as the school bus are required to stop in these circumstances.

Motorists should also be mindful of posted speed limits, avoid distractions, and watch for children in, or near, school and residential areas. Planning ahead and allowing for extra time during each commute will help keep all road users safe.

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As students prepare to head back to school in August, parents and community members are reminded of critical safety information to keep kids safe.

“Sending students back to school is an annual reminder of our duty to keep the kids of our community safe,” said Sheriff Brent Miller. “Parents and community members must respect the law and follow this crucial guidance to promote a safe learning environment for our kids. When we all do our part, we keep our kids, families, and fellow community members out of harm’s way.”

To do your part in creating a safe community, keep in mind the following guidelines:

Stop for School Buses: As a driver, always follow the school bus stop-arm law. Drivers are required by law to stop for school buses, no matter which direction from which cars approach. Failing to stop for a school bus can result in a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $5,000. Courts can also suspend the driver’s license of someone who fails to stop for a school bus.

Be Safe at the Bus Stop: Parents and caregivers should always accompany children to the bus stop. Children should maintain a safe distance from the road while waiting on the bus and not approach the bus until it comes to a complete stop. Parents should also be wary of any unusual individuals or behavior around bus stops and teach kids to not engage with strangers. If you notice a safety concern, report it to the school and local authorities immediately.

Watch for Walkers: Be cautious of increased pedestrian traffic while driving, especially around schools. Community members should always remain vigilant of their surroundings on the road and near sidewalks or crosswalks. Similarly, students who walk to school should be cautious of drivers, making use of both sidewalks and crosswalks. Walkers should face traffic if no sidewalk is available and make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street.

Follow Speed Limits: Be cognizant of reduced speed limits in school zones and residential areas. By following the law and slowing down your speed, you can improve the safety of pedestrians as well as the safety of young drivers on the road.

Buckle Up: Seatbelts are the most effective way to prevent injury or death in a car crash, so take the extra second to buckle up before backing out. When transporting children to and from school, ensure all passengers are buckled in a seat belt or secured in a car seat. Parents should also encourage students who ride a bus equipped with seat belts to buckle up on every ride.

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By: Jerry Curry, Staff Writer

The new artificial turf installation is under way at the Salem Lions football field. The Salem School Board approved the turf and a new press box at their January 18 meeting.

The turf field costs $1.7 million and the press box $481,413.

The field is named after Jim Ralston, who was the coach from 1977 to 1996. After that Ralston was principal at the high school, retired, and then was brought back as the elementary school principal. He was instrumental in the lives of many and just a huge part of the community.

The official dedication will be Friday, August 9.

Coach Ralston was there last Saturday with about 20 ex-football players when he found out the field was named in his honor.

The Hellas construction company wanted to do the field as a showcase to other high schools and adjusted the price to reflect that. They had the Indiana University football field in their portfolio along with the indoor and outdoor fields for Indiana Colts and Lucas Oil Stadium, but had never installed a turf field for a high school.

Hank Weedin, the Salem High School athletic director, gave an insight to the installation process. First a lot of dirt is removed and crushed rock is put down and leveled out. There is a drainage system under the field allowing the field to be used after a rain storm. Rubber pads are then installed to absorb the shock. The tuff is put down and stretched like carpet.

It may look finished now put a special fine pea gravel is placed over the gravel. Then very small rubber pellets are applied, which allows the turf material to stand up.The field is brushed with a sweeper every 40 hours. Once a year the Hellas Company will return and brush the field again and address any issues.

There are also new goal posts and an area for broad jump and pole vaulting.

Salem High is in partnership with the Indianapolis Colts. The football players will be there August 23 and on October 18 with the cheerleaders. Salem High School is one of the five schools that the Colts will visit.

The press box will not be installed in October – November so it will not interfere with the football season.

Weedin said “It’s expensive but the field is more versatile. The field will be used for band invitationals, soccer teams besides football. The soccer team will enjoy the restrooms, lighting and concession stand that they don’t have at their present location. This is definitely a show class for Salem.”

Weedin also pointed out the nice aluminum grandstands that were donated by Jack and Marcia Huckleberry, and Don and Ruth Huckleberry on Sept. 11, 1987. It was dedicated in memory of Roy and Gladys Huckleberry and their son Dale.

Another bit of history can be found behind the ball diamond. It’s the old pedestrian bridge that use to be at the Salem Speedway and now provides a path across Brock Creek. The bridge was removed from the speedway in 1977 by speedway owner at that time, Sherman Armstrong.