On Valentine's Day 2023, just before his 13th birthday, Jacob was tragically killed in front of Franklin middle school in Wayne, Michigan. He and his best friend were trying to catch their school bus in Wayne County, MI. The bus didn't stop for them as per the existing policy which states that buses are not supposed to wait for late children. This heartbreaking incident has left a void in our lives and raised serious concerns about the safety policies of our public transportation system.

In 2019 alone, there were approximately 264 school-age children killed in school-transportation-related crashes (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). We believe that it is high time we address this issue seriously and prevent such devastating incidents from happening again.

We propose a mandatory policy where if a bus driver sees a child approaching, they must stop the bus and let the child on or inform them about alternative routes home. This simple change can potentially save lives by ensuring no child is left behind or put at risk due to strict adherence to schedules.

Let us honor Jacob's memory by making sure no other family has to endure such pain. Let us make our public transportation system safer for our children. Please sign this petition urging Wayne County officials to implement mandatory bus stop policies for child safety immediately.