Springfield Public Schools and area law enforcement are reminding drivers to keep an eye out for students as the first day of school approaches.
With kids heading back to school on Aug. 25, SPS, Springfield Police Department and the Greene County Sheriff's Office have partnered to createa safety campaign with a "simple but critical message: Distractions behind the wheel can have dangerous consequences for children walking to school or getting onto or off a bus."
“Every school day, these buses carry our kids to and from school,” said Lt. Steve Schwind, SPD Traffic Unit commander, in a release. “When you see those flashing lights or the stop arm come out, it’s not optional.”
The campaign includes a 30-second public service announcement video as well
as social media messages focused on pedestrian awareness and safe driving behavior around school buses.
According to the SPD's traffic services statistics, there were 12 stop arm violations — in which drivers illegally passed a stopped school bus — in 2025, 23 in 2024 and 7 in 2023.
In August and September, SPD's traffic unit will focus on bus stop arm violations and school zone speed enforcement.
“This is a shared responsibility,” said Jim Farrell, SPS chief of school police, in the news release. “Whether you’re a parent, a student, or a driver passing through a school zone, your choices make a difference in keeping children safe.”
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Springfield schools, law enforcement launch student safety campaign
