Operation Safe Stop prioritizes school bus safety: $1K fine to drivers endangering school students

With a new school year just around the corner, Isle of Palms police are reminding everyone now not to commit an intolerable road hazard: passing a stopped school bus at a student stop.

Since implementing Operation Safe Stop in August 2024 to eliminate the problem at its root, IOPPD is making this dangerous and illegal violation one of its top priorities for all buses on all routes.

“Nine drivers were cited during the 2024-25 school year for passing a stopped school bus, which is nine too many – and that’s just the ones who were caught,” said IOPPD Sgt. Matt Storen. “Fortunately, there has been no tragedy so far because bus drivers are always watching for other drivers. But we will have zero tolerance for any violations.”

All violators are subject to penalties that include over $1,000 in fines, court costs and six points off the offender’s driver’s license.

“We have no schools on Isle of Palms, but 10 to 20 bus routes and a large amount of bus stops which service Operation Safe Stop prioritizes school bus safety $1K fine to drivers endangering school students By L. C. Leach III district elementary, middle and high schools that resident students attend,” Storen said.

Of the roughly 51,000 students in the Charleston County School District’s 85 schools, 252 are from Isle of Palms. The majority – 123 – attend nearby Sullivan’s Island Elementary School. Another 68 students go to Moultrie Middle in Mount Pleasant and 44 attend Wando High. The remainder are split among Buist Academy, Early College High School, Laing Middle School, Lucy Beckham High and Academic Magnet in North Charleston.

James Lynch, executive director of CCSD Transportation, said illegally passing a stopped bus is a concern across the district. “The number of reported vehicles passing a stopped school bus has remained pretty consistent,” he said. “CCSD reports all driver-reported incidents to the SCDOE (SC Department of Education) and the state trooper assigned to the SCDOE for bus safety.”

While the number of IOP bus riders constantly changes, IOPPD urges compliance with the following:

• If a school bus is stopped on a two-lane road with the red lights flashing and the stop bar on the side of the bus extended, all drivers must stop.
• If you are on a four-lane divided highway under the same circumstances, all drivers in the two lanes behind the bus must stop. “But the two lanes approaching the bus may continue, since a school bus driver will never have children cross a four-lane highway,” Storen said.
• Be alert in school zones and residential streets, as children may cross the street to get to their bus.

Storen added this note of caution: In instances where the bus slows to an approaching stop and puts on flashing lights, drivers are permitted to pass until the stop bar is extended. This situation requires driver judgment and timing, rather than trying to ‘beat the stop bar.

“We want to remind all drivers that our children’s safety is our top priority,” he said. “Officers will continue monitoring school bus routes to enforce these critical safety laws and look for suspicious activity at bus stops.”

By L. C. Leach III