Last week, my 7-year-old child thankfully escaped injury when a car drove through the stop sign of his stopped school bus. We were fortunate this time, but we cannot rely on luck to protect our children. This incident has highlighted the urgent need for Tioga County to adopt the same protective measures as neighboring Broome County.

In Broome County, they have implemented an effective program called the Broome-County Emergency Services School Bus Stop Arm Safety Program. This program has been successful in reducing incidents related to school bus safety and ensuring that children arrive at and return from school safely every day. You can see their statistics here: School Bus Stop-Arm Safety Program | Broome County (gobroomecounty.com)

According to statistics from the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services, in 2019 alone there were over 95,000 instances where vehicles illegally passed a stopped school bus on a single day across America (NASDPTS). The consequences can be devastating; between 2006 and 2015, there were an estimated 102 fatalities involving school-age pedestrians (18 or younger) with a vehicle illegally passing a stopped school bus (NHTSA).

We want our children in Tioga County to have equal protection. It is time for us to be proactive rather than reactive once tragedy strikes. Let's work together as concerned parents and community members of Tioga County to urge our local government officials into action.

Please sign this petition if you believe that every child deserves safe transportation to and from school. Together we can make sure no child becomes another statistic due to insufficient safety measures at their bus stop.